Reuse, Compost & Recycling

  1. Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability
  2. Campus Sustainability
  3. Reuse, 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)

Contact

Nathan Wolk

Recycling Coordinator and Compost Technician

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 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
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 or can be donated?

  • Submit a work order to recycle...
    • Batteries & small electronics
    • Reusable items to donate (office supplies and equipment, textiles, books)
    • 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
    • Styrofoam
    • Toner and printer cartridges
    • Scrap metal

 

  • 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.