Compost & Recycling

  1. Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability
  2. Campus Sustainability
  3. Compost & Recycling
Graphic showing what goes in landfill (snack bags, plastic bags, condiment packets, wrappers, loose bottle caps, foil lids), compost (food waste, food-soiled paper, compostable to-go ware), and recycle (must be clean and empty. bottles and cans, cartons, paper and cardboard, and plastic containers)

For more information, contact Nathan Wolk, Recycling Coordinator and Compost Technician: wolknathanie@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-6459

Green compost graphic

What goes in the green compost bin?

  • Any and ALL food scraps
  • Food-soiled paper (like paper plates or pizza boxes) and compostable to-go ware
  • All to-go ware from Seattle University dining, cafe, and catering services. This includes grab-and-go food packaging with the "Express" or "Chartwells" logos, paper to-go ware, and disposable utensils, cups, and straws.
  • Plant and yard waste
  • Look out:  Coffee cups from off-campus cafes may not be compostable. Check the label or ask the barista if cups are compostable before disposing.
  • Learn about what you can compost with information from Seattle Public Utilities
Graphic of paper with blue recycle sign

What goes in the blue recycle bin?

  • All recyclables must be clean, dry, and empty
  • Paper: All colors, coated cartons and cups too. Must be dry (wet, food-soiled, or shredded uncoated paper goes in the compost bin)
  • Cardboard: Flatten and place next to a recycling bin
  • Plastic: Must be empty, clean and dry. Loose lids must be 3 inches or wider
  • Metal: All types of empty metal containers and scrap metal
  • Glass: All types of empty glass containers
  • Styrofoam: Place white block form styrofoam next to a recycling bin. Put packing peanuts in a bag or box and place next to a recycling bin.
Graphic of brown trash can

What goes in the brown landfill bin?

  • Non-recyclable and non-compostable items like snack bags, plastic bags, condiment packets, wrappers, loose bottle caps narrower than 3 inches, and foil lids
Graphic with drawings of plastic wrap, a pile of papers, and batteries

What to do with items that are hard to recycle?

  • Submit a work order to recycle...
    • Batteries & small electronics
    • Reusable items (office supplies and equipment, clothing for donation, food)
    • Plastic film products: If you can stretch the plastic easily with your thumb, it is most likely recyclable. Collect stretchable plastic consolidated into another plastic bag before submitting a work order

 

  • Recycle confidential documents in a confidential recycling bin. These bins are typically in office suites; contact your department's administrative staff to learn where your bin is located.