Recycling Guide

What can I recycle at UF?

Here at UF and Facilities Sevices, we’re continuously working towards better ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. If you’re interested about what and where things can be recycled on campus, check out the guide below

UF Recycling Guide

Click on materials below and learn how and where to recycle it at UF:

Green Star = Services widely available to students, faculty, staff, visitors, and administrators
Gold Star = UF generated wastes (authorized access)
Red Star = UF generated wastes (special drop-off or pick-up)
MATERIAL WHERE TO RECYCLE COMMENTS
A – Z
(Click for details)
On-Campus Containers Recycling Yard Special Handling (Advice To Minimize Contamination and Increase Recycling)

Aluminum Cans
Recycle in commingled “Bottles and Cans” containers across campus. Please empty and rinse containers first, if possible.
Appliances UF generated appliances can be dropped to the Facilities Services Recycling Yard or call Recycling and Solid Waste Management at (352) 392-7396 for instructions. Note: Refrigerants must be properly removed prior to appliance disposal.
Batteries Lead-acid auto batteries and rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous and can be recycled through EH&S at (352) 392-8400.
Beverage Containers Recycle in commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins across campus. Please empty beverage containers first, if possible.
Biomedical Waste Never add biomedical waste in trash bins or recycling bins! Contact EH&S for safe recycling at (352) 392-1591.
Brush and Woody Debris Bring branches, tree limbs and woody yard waste to the Facilities Services Recycling Yard.

Cans
Steel (“tin”) cans of all sizes go in commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins across campus. Please rinse cans first, if possible.

Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard, including empty and clean pizza boxes, can go into “Paper and Cardboard” containers across campus. No waxed or greasy cardboard please!

Carpet
Bring old carpet tiles or squares, stacked on pallets and shrink wrapped, to the trailer near Facilities Services Recycling Yard. Please only dry, non-moldy carpet. Old carpet gets recycled into new carpet!

Cartons
Cartons from milk, juice, soup, wine, etc. are recycled in commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins across campus. Please empty and rinse cartons first, if possible.
Chemicals  Do not put chemicals into the trash bins or recycling bins! Contact EH&S at (352) 392-8400.
Construction, Demolition debris (C&D) Certain materials generated in construction, demolition, maintenance and remodeling of facilities are brought to the Facilities Services Recycling Yard.
Copier & Printer Cartridges Put used cartridge in the bag the replacement cartridge came in, enclose the bag in the same box the replacement cartridge came in, seal both ends of the box with tape, and place box next to (not inside) the outgoing mail bin.
Electronics UF Surplus/Asset Management must manage all electronic waste. Call (352) 392-2556.
Fluorescent Bulbs Fluorescent bulbs generated at UF are considered hazardous. Lamps can be recycled or managed by EH&S. Call (352) 392-8400.
Food Waste Gator Dining Services, PK Yonge, O Connell Center, Reitz Union, Racquet Club, Shands, several Greek houses, and the Hare Krishna lunches are partnering with UF Facilities Services to compost food waste. Call (352) 392-7396 to find out about food waste composting at UF.
Furniture UF Surplus/Asset Management manages furniture from UF departments. Call (352) 392-7396.
Glass (Bottles and Jars) Glass bottles and jars (of any glass color) go into commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins across UF campus. Please rinse glass first, if possible.
Ice Packs (Labs, Medical) Defrosted, clean and dry ice packs are recycled at the Fisher Supply Stockrooms on campus. No leaking ice packs, please!
Metal Cans
(steel or “tin”)
Steel (“tin”) cans of all sizes can go in commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins all around campus. Please rinse cans first, if possible.
Metal Items or Scrap Metal Metal items can be brought to the Facilities Services Recycling Yard or call Recycling and Solid Waste Management at (352) 392-7396 for help.
Pallets Take pallets to the pallet collection area by Central Stores, or call Recycling and Solid Waste Management at (352) 392-7396 for pickup.
Paper Clean, dry paper and cardboard can be recycled in “Paper and Cardboard” containers across campus. Please do not recycle paper contaminated with food (dirty sandwich wrappers, drink cups, etc.).
Paper Towels Campus restrooms feature specially marked containers for paper towel composting. Put only paper towels in these containers.
Plastic Containers Put plastic food and product containers, and other “non-brittle” plastic such as yogurt containers into commingled “Bottles and Cans” bins across campus. Please rinse plastic first, if possible. Solo or Starbucks cups cannot be recycled at UF, in Gainesville, or Alachua County!
Plastic Film and Bubble Wrap Clean plastic bubble wrap and plastic film pallet wrap (shrink wrap) is collected for recycling at Facilities Services Central Stores. Call Recycling and Solid Waste Management at (352) 392-7396.
Plastic Items (Large Quantities) Large quantities of plastic items from laboratories, campus facilities and operations may be recyclable. These are handled separately, and samples may be required before determining acceptance. Call Recycling and Solid Waste Management at (352) 294-2225 for assistance.
Wood
(Unfinished Lumber)
Bring unfinished lumber, including broken pallets, to the Facilities Services Recycling Yard. Raw wood is mulched. Please no glued wood, plywood, or painted wood in raw wood roll off!

More information

For further information or Recycling Team help, please contact the Recycling and Solid Waste Department at (352) 392-7396 or recycling-waste-management-staff@facilitiesservices.ufl.edu.