Everyday Recycling Guidelines
A-B Tech aims to recycle as much as possible within programs and across all campuses.
(Click image to view PDF)
(Click image to view PDF)
Receptacles with blue liners are for recycling and items placed in the bin will be recycled accordingly. Receptacles with black liners are for landfill waste and all waste items will be directed to the landfill. Recycle and landfill waste bins will typically be located next to each other as side-by-side twin bins.
Cardboard Recycling
Corrugated cardboard should be flattened and placed next to the recycling and landfill waste bins for collection. Cardboard that is not contaminated with food particles is recycled in a dumpster on campus. This cardboard is then collected by a local business that compensates the College for the cardboard. Funds received from this recycling effort help support additional sustainability projects on campus.
Food waste is not recyclable.
Classroom Spaces
Landfill waste receptacles are not located in each classroom. Most classrooms on campus use centralized waste receptacles located in the hallways to dispose of waste. This sustainability and recycling guideline is known as “All in the Hall”. Exceptions to “All in the Hall” are lab rooms, conference rooms, and bathrooms.
Office Spaces
Most offices will have recycling receptacles. Any requests for other receptacles should be made to the immediate supervisor, who, upon approval, should direct the request via email to Aaron Surrett at aaronmsurrett@abtech.edu. Requests will be accommodated as soon as we are able. The custodial staff will only be expected to empty one waste receptacle in each office, the occupant will be responsible for emptying any additional waste receptacles.
Common Areas
Recycle and landfill waste receptacles are located in common areas for waste disposal.
What Can Be Recycled
Blue Bags
The following items can be placed in blue bags for recycling. All items should be empty/clean before placing in recycling.
- Plastic — drink bottles, tubs (ex. yogurt, margarine), plastic milk jugs, shampoo bottles
- Metal — aluminum cans, aluminum pie, and food trays (cleaned), steel cans, aerosol cans (empty)
- Glass — bottles, jars including metal lids (>2” diameter)
- Paper — office paper, mixed paper (see below*), gable top cartons (ex. milk, juice carton)
* Mixed paper — catalogs, junk mail, magazines, phone books, post-it notes, cereal boxes, cardboard egg cartons, paper towel tubes, paper bags, and envelopes.
If you are unsure if something is recyclable, go to the ‘Waste Wizard’ website – scroll down and click on ‘wizard’ in the center of the page.
Beside Twin Bins
Corrugated cardboard (ex. shipping boxes) – these boxes should be flattened and placed next to the twin bin containers.
Cannot Be Recycled
What goes to the landfill?
Black Bags
The following items should be placed in black bags to go to the landfill.
- Paper towels and napkins
- Food waste* and food wrappers
- Disposable coffee and drink cups (paper, plastic, styrofoam, compostable)
- Plastic cutlery and straws
- Deli/Take-out/clamshell containers (plastic, styrofoam, cardboard, compostable)
- Tanglers (wires, spirals, cords)
*If you are looking for an alternative to landfilling your food waste, think about taking it to a food waste drop-off location where it can be turned into compost. You could also make your own compost pile.
The following items cannot be recycled on campus but can be taken to alternative locations for recycling:
- Styrofoam (Food grade, clean) ex. egg cartons, take-out containers, cups, plates - Publix
- Styrofoam (Bulky/molded Styrofoam) – Hard 2 Recycle
- Plastic film - grocery bags, clean zip-top bags, plastic overwrap (ex. from toilet paper), dry cleaning bags, deflated packaging pillows (Plastic Film Recycling) - Publix, Ingles Markets
- Batteries (household, alkaline – AA, AAA) - Hard 2 Recycle
- Batteries (vehicle, electronic rechargeable, other) – Interstate Batteries
- Packaging (bubble wrap, air-filled bags (still filled)) – UPS
- Electronic devices (phones, laptops), ink/toner cartridges, household appliances, CDs/DVDs, used gift cards - Best Buy
- Personal care items (empty flexible tubes (toothpaste), floss containers, etc.) - TerraCycle
- Water filters - TerraCycle
- Plastic flower pots, Light bulbs (screw-in Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) - Home Depot, Lowes
- Motor oil, oil filters – Advanced Auto, Auto Zone
- Cooking oil – Blue Ridge Biofuels
Thank you for your willingness to help in these recycling efforts.