A-Z Sorting Guide

Batteries are considered hazardous materials and should not be put in the garbage or any recycling bins. Drop them off at the following battery bins around campus:

• SLC: Lower Atrium across from Campus Tech Shop
• DP: Main floor, across from Circulation Desk
• DC: Main entrance
• V1: Front desk
• UWP: Beck Hall, front desk 
• CLV: Community Centre, front desk

If you have collected a number of batteries in your department, you may also call Greg Friday (ext. 35755) from the Safety Office to pick them up, or drop them off at any hazardous materials office.

Books can be placed in Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins. 

Glass bottles can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Plastic bottles can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Boxboard can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins. 

Please fold cardboard boxes and place next to a recycling depot.

Cans can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Cell phones can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

Cling wrap cannot be recycled and should be placed in the Garbage (black) bins.

If you have used clothing, bring it to one of these drop off locations managed by Sustainable Campus Initiative! They sell or recycle all used textiles.

• CLV: Laundry room
• V1: In front of laundry room 
• UWP: Grand Commons Community Centre, near Tim Horton's
• CMH: Beside front desk by window
• MKV: Opposite to front desk
• REV: Opposite to front desk
• Velocity Residence: By front desk

Coffee cups are recyclable and can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Did You Know?: Last year, coffee cups made up nearly 8% of all waste sent to the landfill on campus?

Remember, reducing is always better than recycling. Whenever possible, bring your own mug and receive a 20 cent discount on coffee/tea at all Food Service locations, and a 10 cent discount at all franchise locations on campus.

Coffee trays can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

Computers, monitors and other computer equipment can be dropped off at Central Stores, East Campus Hall. 

Please fill out an asset disposal form and follow any other instructions available on the Central Stores website.

Glass containers can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Plastic containers can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Small e-waste items (e.g. keyboards, mice, writing utensils, ink/toner cartridges, cell phones, cables, cameras, tablets) can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

Larger e-waste items can be dropped off at Central Stores, East Campus Hall. For a full list of acceptable items and drop-off procedures, please visit the Central Stores website.

Egg cartons can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

Envelopes can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

Food waste can be placed in the Organics (green) bins, which will be available in main Food Services locations across campus. Please make sure that you do not place any plastics in the organics bins!

Campus Compost also has several bins where you can drop off food waste for collection in our on-site composter. For all locations, visit the Campus Compost website.

If you are interested in organics collection in your department (e.g. kitchen, lounge), please contact Campus Compost to inquire about their pick-up service.

Used furniture from office renovations can be recycled through Central Stores, East Campus Hall.

Please fill out an asset disposal form and follow any other instructions available on the Central Stores website.

Hazardous waste is toxic and should not be placed in the garbage or any recycling bins. For more information on proper handling of hazardous waste materials, visit the Safety Office's Hazardous Waste Standard.

If you have a large amount of hazardous waste that needs to be collected, please contact Greg Friday (ext. 35755) from the Safety Office.

Ink and toner cartridges can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

They can also be dropped off at Central Stores, East Campus Hall.

Juice boxes can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins. Please remove any plastic straws and place them in the garbage.

Keyboards and mice can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

Lightbulbs are considered a hazardous material and should not be thrown into the garbage or recycling bins. Please contact Greg Friday (ext. 35755) from the Safety Office if you have a surplus of lightbulbs that need to be disposed of.

Magazines can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

Milk and cream cartons can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

Paper napkins can be placed in the Organics (green) bins, which will be available in main Food Services locations across campus. Please make sure that you do not place any plastics in the organics bins!

Campus Compost also has several bins where you can drop off food waste for collection in our on-site composter. For all locations, visit the Campus Compost website.

If you are interested in organics collection in your department (e.g. kitchen, lounge), please contact Campus Compost to inquire about their pick-up service.

Newspaper can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

Paper can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.

You can also drop off coloured and white printer/copy paper in Fine Paper (white) bins, located near printer queues and in copy rooms. 

Fun Fact: All fine paper collected through the white bin program is sent to a recycling facility that re-uses the materials as paper towels. These get shipped back to campus for use in the washrooms!

Paper plates can be placed in the Organics (green) bins, which will be available in main Food Services locations across campus. Please make sure that you do not place any plastics in the organics bins!

Campus Compost also has several bins where you can drop off food waste for collection in our on-site composter. For all locations, visit the Campus Compost website.

If you are interested in organics collection in your department (e.g. kitchen, lounge), please contact Campus Compost to inquire about their pick-up service.

Paper towels can be placed in the Organics (green) bins, which will be available in main Food Services locations across campus. If there are no green bins available, please place dirty paper towels into the garbage.

Campus Compost also has several bins where you can drop off food waste for collection in our on-site composter. For all locations, visit the Campus Compost website.

If you are interested in organics collection in your department (e.g. kitchen, lounge), please contact Campus Compost to inquire about their pick-up service.

Pens, pencils and other writing utensils can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

Pizza boxes (empty!) can be broken down and placed beside recycling depots.

Plastic bags can be placed in the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins. If you have multiple bags, please place them into one bag and place them in the bin.

Scrap metal can be recycled through Central Stores, East Campus Hall.

Please fill out an asset disposal form and follow any other instructions available on the Central Stores website.

Scrap wood and brush can be collected by Plant Operations (ext. 33793) and converted into mulch. 

Paper straws can be placed in the Organics (green) bins, which will be available in main Food Services locations across campus. If there are no green bins available, please place used paper straws in the garbage.

Campus Compost also has several bins where you can drop off food waste for collection in our on-site composter. For all locations, visit the Campus Compost website.

If you are interested in organics collection in your department (e.g. kitchen, lounge), please contact Campus Compost to inquire about their pick-up service.

Plastic straws are not recyclable and must be placed in the Garbage (black) bins.

Fun Fact: Waterloo is phasing out plastic straws across campus by Fall 2018 and will replace them with paper straws. When eating out off-campus, consider purchasing a stainless steel straw - they are portable, easy to clean, and help keep plastic out of our oceans and natural environment!

Shipping boxes can be broken down and placed beside recycling depots.

Styrofoam is not recyclable and must be placed in the Garbage (black) bins.

Small televisions can be dropped off at Central Stores, East Campus Hall. 

Please fill out an asset disposal form and follow any other instructions available on the Central Stores website.

Textbooks can be recycled at the following locations:

• Feds Used Books (SLC lower atrium)
• ML 355
• EV1 138A
• ​PAS 2012
• Library - Porter
• Library - Davis
• Library - St. Jerome's
• Balsille School - 67 Erb St. W.
• St. Paul's - Right next to the Greenhouse Office
• School of Pharmacy - Victoria Street (Need a FOB to access)
• V1 Community Center - hallway to the right of the front desk
• UWP Grand Commons Community centre -  Between Eby and Beck Hall 

 View the Campus Map for the above locations.

Clean tin foil can be placed in the Mixed Containers (blue) recycling bins.

If your tin foil is dirty (e.g. baked on food), then it must be placed in the Garbage (black) bins.

Wax paper is not recyclable and must be placed in the Garbage (black) bins.

Writing utensils can be dropped off in several e-waste bins across campus:

• DC: Library
• SLC: Lower Atrium
• V1: Front desk

Clean Ziploc bags can be placed into the Paper and Bags (grey) recycling bins.