What is recycling contamination?

a pile of various items including plastic bags, an aluminum can, dirty containers, and an empty Starbucks cup,

The phrase recycling contamination isn’t clear to people outside of the waste industry. Let’s break it down:

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, contaminate means "to soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association" or "to make inferior or impure by admixture." In recycling, a contaminant is something that should not be in recycling because it can degrade other materials or the recycling process.

North Campus Husky Neighborhood Cleanup in September

Husky Neighborhood Cleanup

UW students living in the North campus neighborhood can get rid of unwanted items for free during the Husky Neighborhood Cleanup. On Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24 trucks will be on site accepting items for recycling or disposal.

A UW student Husky card will be required to drop off material. Items can be taken on those days to the median at 17th Ave NE & NE 47th St. from 1 to 5 p.m. or until the trucks are full.

Accepted items include:

2024 Trash Art Contest

text reads: UW Recycling 2024 Trash Art Contest on a purple background with the University of Washington logo

UW Recycling is now accepting entries for the 2024 Trash Art Contest! Participants must create an art piece from items normally thought of as waste or a literary piece about waste.

Categories include:

  • 2D art
  • 3D art
  • Textile art
  • Literature

Art pieces should express feelings or ideas about waste, or a sustainability topic that relates to waste. This contest is open to all UW students, faculty and staff.

2023 Trash Art Contest winners announced

little plastic rectangles that spell out TAGC

Artists from around the UW created astounding art pieces from trash in the fourth annual Trash Art Contest.

UW Recycling received 23 submissions from UW students, faculty and staff. Five winning pieces were selected in three categories. The artwork needed to be created from items normally thought of as trash or a written work about waste and sustainability. Artists were asked to express feelings or ideas about waste, or a sustainability topic that relates to waste.

Get involved with Campus Race to Zero Waste 2023

uw campus in background with uw recycling logo. Campus Race to Zero Waste logo on top

Campus Race to Zero Waste (CRZW) starts this week at the University of Washington! For the eleventh year, the UW will be participating in the friendly recycling and waste reduction competition between colleges and universities. As part of CRZW, UW Recycling is organizing activities to focus on good waste sorting practices. Here are some ways you can get involved.

2023 Trash Art Contest

purple background with white university of washington w; text reads uw recycling 2023 trash art contest; image is of a dress made of trash; caption of image says metamorphosis by isabella harris

UW Recycling is excited to host another Trash Art Contest for 2023!

Categories include literature, 2D and 3D art. Participants must create an art piece from items normally thought of as trash or a literary piece about waste. Art pieces should express feelings or ideas about waste, or a sustainability topic that relates to waste. This contest is open to all UW students, faculty and staff.

Submissions are due March 22, 2023 at 4 p.m. PST. Winners for each category will receive $100 or $50 gift cards to a low waste store.

North campus Husky Neighborhood Cleanup

Husky Neighborhood Cleanup

UW students moving out in the north campus neighborhood can drop off unwanted items for free recycling, donation and disposal this week. 

UW Recycling's Husky Neighborhood Cleanup provides an easy way to get rid of your unwanted items during moveout. Trucks will be at 17th Ave NE & NE 47th St. on Thursday, June 9; Monday, June 13; and Tuesday, June 14 from 1-5 p.m. or until trucks are full. A UW student ID card is required to drop off items.