Recycling and Waste Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Index

1. How much of Harvard’s trash gets recycled? How much more could still be recycled?

TOP

In FY2011, Harvard recovered 55% of its waste stream for recycling, reuse or composting. According to our most recent Waste Audits in Fall 2011, between 20% and 45% of our trash could have been recycled. If we recycled even half of this, we could save over $50,000 per year.

2. Do all Harvard single stream recycling? Are there differences between what I can recycle if I work at a different college/department?

TOP

All residences, offices and dining facilities served by Harvard Recycling are free to sort to SingleStream specifications. However, for internal reasons related to laboratory and clean room specifications, buildings may choose to limit commodities collected in certain locations.

3. Is office recycling all managed through the Harvard Recycling & Waste Services?

TOP

Yes, Harvard Recycling manages office recycling at all Harvard buildings in the Cambridge and Allston campuses. Harvard Residential Real Estate buildings manage the recycling according to the specifications here: http://green.harvard.edu/hres/single-stream-recycling

4. Where does single stream recycling go?

TOP

Harvard Recycling delivers SingleStream recycling to Casella Recycling in Charlestown. Casella sorts our recyclables into 12 commodities including cardboard, glass, steel cans, aluminum cans, clear PET plastic etcetera. The plant’s staff and machinery use magnets, star screens, blowers, optical sorters, and people to sort the materials. Once sorted, the goods go to factories using recycled fiber, resin or metal feedstock across North America and around the world. As of late 2011, North American factories buy 75% of the commodities and most of the remainder goes to China, Mexico and India.

5. If someone throws a bit of garbage in the recycling and we can't take it out, what should we do?

TOP

Casella will charge us a disposal fee if over 5% by weight of any one truck’s deliveries are contaminants. We need our recyclers to keep out contaminants to conserve the environmental and economic efficiencies of recycling. If after draining a bottle there is a slight residue of beverage or detergent, that’s OK. Similarly, if after scraping a plate or bowl, there is still some sauce or food detritus, please recycle it anyway.

6. Our recycling hasn't been collected in a while, who should we contact about this?

TOP

Ask your Building Manager; perhaps a holiday or vacation has disrupted the normal collection schedule. If you have persistent problems, have your Building Manager call us at 617-495-3042. We want to collect the materials you have diligently set aside for us!

7. Where can I recycle things I can't put in the single stream bins - like packaging peanuts?

TOP

Foam peanuts can be delivered for reuse at The UPS Stores, 855 Mass Ave or 1770 Mass Ave, Cambridge.

8. What kind of Recycling Resources could you recommend? Recycling 911 etc.

TOP

Resource Recycling magazine is the professional journal of the materials management industry. See their website at http://www.resource-recycling.com/

9. What do I do with bottle caps?

TOP

Before tossing your bottle into the recycling bin, be sure to remove the cap, then put both into the bin. Removal of the cap allows for evaporation and prevents retention of residual liquid. Extra liquid causes a number of problems: it adds weight, which adds to the energy (and fossil fuel emissions) necessary to transport the recyclables; it creates a mess and dirties the recycling plant.

10. Can I recycle envelopes with the plastic windows? What about staples? And spiral notebooks? Glossy advertisements? Post-its?

TOP

You'll like the answer to this one; all of these items are fine to toss into the "Paper" recycling bin. In the recycling process, all paper, even the glossy, is converted to pulp, and all non-natural fibers such as metal will be strained out. So don't waste your time removing staples, spiral bindings, or plastic windows!

11. Can I recycle paper with tape on it?

TOP

It's OK to leave tape on paper; however, it does gum up machines and reduce the efficiency of recycling. Try to remove obvious tape from papers and posters before recycling...but again, don't waste your time scraping tape off of paper!

12. Why can't I recycle pizza boxes?

TOP

The actual cardboard of the pizza boxes is recyclable; it is the food residue that is almost sure to have seeped into the cardboard that the recycling company doesn't want. When recycling collectors see a food-soaked item in a cardboard recycling bin, they may assume that the entire bin is "contaminated;" they can't take the time to sort out the good and the bad cardboard. We have to provide them with clean, ready-to-recycle products!

13. Can I recycle any plastic that has a recycling sign and number on it?

TOP

Cambridge now recycles every type of plastic - numbers one through seven. If the plastic has a recycling symbol on it, you can throw it in the recycle bin, regardless of the number. Solo cups are now recyclable, too!

14. Do I have to separate glass, plastic, and aluminum?

TOP

No. You can put anything that you call a bottle, jug, can or container into the same "Bottles and Cans" recycling bin. We are so clever with those names...

15. Do I have to worry about labels?

TOP

No. You can leave labels on bottles and cans!

16. What if I don't have a recycling bin?

TOP

Most importantly, you don't need a "recycling" bin to recycle. Any container will work -- a small trash can, a box, a paper bag for paper -- be creative! However, each suite should be already be outfitted with recycle bins. If your room doesn't have bins, just let your REP know. To find your REP, visit the Resource Efficiency Program web site.

17. How important is it that I prepare recyclables correctly? Doesn't this take a really long time?

TOP

It is desirable to prepare items correctly before placing them in recycling bins. This means:

Flatten boxes. If you don't, they will probably be thrown away.
Clean out obvious food residue from plastics (such as a yogurt container). You do not have to rinse out drink bottles; sugary soda residue is acceptable!
Remove bottle caps (so that residue can evaporate and not add weight and mess).

Custodians cannot always take the time to separate dirty containers, remove pizza boxes, or flatten other boxes. Please take a few extra seconds and move any items inappropriately placed in the recycling bin to the trash - this will earn you major points from the recycling fairy!

18. How does recycling help me as a Harvard student?

TOP

There are a number of benefits you receive:

The University saves money. This can translate into more money for student needs, such as space, housing improvements, etc. Harvard pays $87 per ton to have its waste hauled to a landfill in South Carolina, but receives up to $85 per ton for recyclables.
Recycling is part of the Green Cup competition! The house that has improved the most on recycling, energy use, and has the most "eco-projects" receives a cash prize. In 2006, the winning house received $1,037.
Most importantly, you're forming habits that will benefit you in the future. Municipalities are increasingly using financial incentives for recycling. For example, residents of Philadelphia earn gift certificates when they recycle in a program called Recyclebank.

19. Is recycling required by law in Cambridge/Massachusetts?

TOP

Funny you should ask. As a matter of fact, it is. Check out this excerpt from Harvard's Handbook for Students: "Recycling is mandatory in Cambridge. Students must bring all trash and recyclables to the designated area in each House or dormitory. Materials should be sorted into trash, mixed paper, and commingled container receptacles."

20. New York City isn't recycling anymore; why do I have to?

TOP

In 2002, New York City temporary stopped recycling glass and plastics. Although attempting to make budget cuts, the city soon realized that ending recycling programs would not save the city money. The city once again resumed bottle and can recycling on April 1, 2004. Not only is recycling good for the environment, but as New York City realized, it usually saves money, too!

21. Can I recycle batteries? Why should I?

TOP

You should recycle batteries because they contain toxic chemicals; if placed in a landfill, they could contaminate groundwater and soil. You can absolutely recycle them here. There should be a battery receptacle in each Super's office and in Yard recycling rooms. If you're not sure where to find a receptacle, speak to your REP.

22. Should I buy rechargeable batteries?

TOP

Rechargeables contain even more toxic materials (heavy metals) than standard batteries, so if you use them, make 100% sure you dispose of them properly- not in the trash. Rechargeable batteries you use from day to day like those in your cell phone or laptop, as well as rechargeable appliances like phones and Dustbusters should not be thrown in the trash. Recycle them!

23. What do I do with plastic bags?

TOP

There is no universal system for plastic bag recycling; that's why you should really make an effort to prevent the production and use of bags by carrying a re-usable bag or backpack. However, with those bags you do have, try to reuse them. They make great small trash can liners! If your bags are grocery bags from a store with a bag recycling program, you can take them back to the store from which they came. It differs store to store, but most grocery stores sell their used bags to be made into plastic lumber (the company is called Trex), which is made from the plastic and sawdust. Plastic bags can not be recycled with cans and bottles as they are difficult to handle in transport and jam conveyor belts and air intake filters.

24. What happens to furniture and other stuff I leave in my room at the end of the year?

TOP

If you bring your furniture to your House's Donation Station during end of year move-out, those items will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. In September, Harvard Habitat organizes the sale of these items and each year makes thousands of dollars while greatly reducing unnecessary waste! You can donate your electrical items and clothes as well. Harvard Recycling will sell the used clothes to The Garment District and donate the profits to student charities like Harvard Habitat in proportion to volunteer sorting time. Students earn $50 per hour for their groups on average.

25. What should I do with my laundry detergent bottle?

TOP

Recycle it! Just take the cap off!

26. How can I compost on campus?

TOP

Food waste left on dining hall trays is sent to a compost facility. Thus leaving organic waste on your tray will, most likely, mean it is composted!

27. How can I get rid of junk mail once and for all?

TOP

Call 1-888-5 OPT OUT to stop credit card offers.

For unwanted contribution pleas and catalogues, make a few simple phone calls or emails and ask to be taken off of mailing lists. To limit your exposure, write "Please do not rent or sell my name" or "No mailing lists" next to your name whenever you order products by mail, enter a contest, subscribe to a magazine, send in a warranty card, or otherwise give your name and address to a company or organization. (Also consider not sending in the warranty card for a new product - it's usually not required.)

One effective way to remove your name from national mailing lists is to write the Direct Marketing Association and register with their Mail Preference Service - an indication that you do not want to be contacted by solicitors. In a letter or 3 1/2 x 5" postcard, include the date, your name in all its iterations ("Jane Smith," "Jane E. Smith," "Ms Jane Smith" etc.), address and signature, and write "Please register my name with the Mail Preference Service." (The term "Mail Preference Service" may sound confusing, but rest assured, registration with MPS is what you do to get off of the mailing lists.) This actually works. Marketers do not want to waste their efforts on people who have explicitly stated they are not interested.

Use this on-line form: dmaconsumers.org/offmailing.

Mail termination requires sending $1 to:

Mail Preference Service, Attn: Dept: 6386627

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 282

Carmel, NY 10512

28. What can I do with packing peanuts?

TOP

Call the Peanut Hotline (Yes, there is a peanut hotline) at 1-800-828-2214 for a list of area businesses such as The UPS Store at 955 Mass. Av., Cambridge, (617) 868-5055, which accept plastic loose fill or packaging peanuts for reuse.

29. What should I do with my old cell phone (I know I shouldn't just throw it away)?

TOP

There are a variety of charities that not only safely dispose of old phones, but actually put them to very good use. Go to www.collectivegood.com to decide where to send your phone! If you give it to your superintendent, it will go to Harvard's electronics salvage program. Or ask your REP for a postage-paid mailer envelope to send it out to a recycler via U.S. mail. The World Wildlife Fund gets $1 for every inkjet cartridge or cell phone they receive this way!

30. Can I recycle my computer/printer at Harvard?

TOP

Yes! First see if the manufacturer or store from which you purchased your equipment participates in take-back or trade-in programs. If not, you can call your super to arrange for pick-up, and box or set out neatly the computer and other components you wish to recycle. Harvard makes sure that recycled computers are not sent overseas where disposal regulations are not as strict, but rather are taken apart and disposed of responsibly. See green.harvard.edu/green-office/recycling for more information.

31. Where do Harvard's recyclables and trash go?

TOP

Harvard's trash is transported all the way to South Carolina...which uses quite a fair bit of fossil fuel, as you can imagine! Recycling, however, goes to nearby Charlestown, where it is processed for shipping to mostly local manufacturers. Thus in addition to saving the energy used to create new material from fossil fuels, at Harvard, recycling also saves transportation emissions!

32. How do I buy recycled?

TOP

The key to buying recycled products is reading labels. You must look for the trademark arrows of the recycling symbol, but that doesn't always mean the product is made from recycled material; it may simply mean the product is technically recyclable (sometimes, only if the product is returned in perfect condition to the manufacturer!).

What you really must check is the ingredient list: you want to see the percent of post-consumer content. Many paper products promote themselves as recycled, but come from industrial surplus (called pre-consumer) that would be recycled anyway. Post-consumer means that another person has already used the material and it is being recycled to you. So that you can use and then recycle it, of course!

33. What is the process of recycling like?

TOP

There are three basic steps in the life of your recyclables: manufacturing, consumption and recovery. All three must occur before recycling is complete. Buy efficiently and buy recycled! Recovery occurs when recyclables are separated from discards; putting paper into a recycling bin is the first step in this process.

At Materials Recovery Facilities, recyclables are sorted in preparation for processing. Magnets and air are used to divide up metals and light items. Employees separate out other items (so be kind and rinse your food containers). Mechanical sorters that use optics to identify different kinds of paper and puffs of air to sort it are also now being developed. This entire separation step may seem inefficient, but transportation and collection can be more efficient when separation is postponed; it's also easier to get people to recycle when they can throw everything together.

At Processing Plants, sorted items are converted into usable material. Plastics get shredded. Different types have different specific gravities, so they will float/sink to different degrees and can then be separated. Paper is soaked in water. In the recycling process, plastic envelope bits float up and magnets remove staples. A large chain is rotated in the vat of paper goo, and tape remnants adhere to the chain for removal.

34. Does stuff put in recycling bins get thrown away?

TOP

Unfortunately, sometimes it does if it is contaminated. Even a tiny piece of food can send an entire bin of recycling to the dump. In addition, the international commodities markets do fluctuate, sometimes making simple dumping less costly than recycling. This is rare, however, and if you buy recycled, the demand for the recyclables will increase. You're not really recycling unless you buy recycled products!

35. What are the top three simple steps I can take to reduce land filled waste and improve recycling at Harvard?

TOP

Reuse and recycle your paper. Currently, almost as much paper is thrown away at Harvard as is recovered for recycling.

Don't buy things you don't really need and buy in bulk to reduce packaging. Per day, the average Harvardian (student, staff & faculty average) generates about 1.58 lbs of trash and .79 lbs of recyclables. Think about carrying that around for a day!

Recycle all year round, not just at the end of the semester.