Chapter 11
Special Materials, Chemical and Hazardous Waste

 What is this item? What does it do? What materials does it contain? Can it be recycled? Is there a reuse opportunity? Does it need to be disposed of in a landfill? Does it need to be disposed of as a special waste?

 Waste management and recycling require research to find answers to this type of question. It is important to ask questions and learn where the resources can be found. Fortunately, there are many experts to consult and college campuses have a plethora of information on many aspects of the issues facing college recyclers.

 Most campuses have a Department of Health and Safety or Environmental Health and Safety which typically oversees chemical, nuclear, biohazardous, and other waste known as universal waste. Recycling coordinators are increasingly being asked to handle universal waste and therefore need to be well informed as to how to safely dispose of it.

 Fostering a positive relationship with the Procurement Department will also be beneficial because staff members will be knowledgeable about what the campus is purchasing and where most materials are located on campus. A procurement official can help set up contracts for recycling and disposal of various materials. If possible, locate recycling/reuse markets for as many materials as possible. Recycling materials may save money and reduce the hassle of paperwork. Universal waste is not always recyclable but proper disposal of “special wastes” is important in reducing toxins in landfills so that soil and water sources remain contaminant free.

 Asphalt, Brick and Concrete
See Chapter 12: Construction and Demolition Recycling for detailed recycling information.

 Scrap Metal
A wide variety of scrap metals will be generated on a college campus, but the most prevalent will be steel. According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel has the highest recycling rate of any material in North America and in 2008 the world steel recycling rate reached an all time high of 83.3%. [17]

Steel is a major component in a wide variety of products including appliances, automobiles, food containers, rebar and other structural supports for buildings. All steel has recycled content, but the proportions of recycled content depend on the type of steel-making furnace used in the manufacturing process. There are two kinds of steel making furnaces: basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and electric arc furnaces (EAF.) The basic oxygen furnace uses 25-35% recycled steel to manufacture new steel. The electric arc furnace uses more than 80% recycled steel. [18]

Recycling steel saves valuable energy and landfill space as well as natural resources. Recycling one ton of steel conserves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. [19]

More specialized metals such as silver, gold, copper, and brass are also generated on college campuses and can be sold for recycling. Price yields will vary depending on the type and grade of the metal. These metals generally need to be separated from one another for marketing. Silver is usually generated in movie and photo studios through film processing practices as well as in radiology labs for x-ray film processing. Devices can be attached to the sinks in these areas which will separate silver from waste liquids so that is may be recovered for recycling. Dental departments regularly recycle gold fillings and some fillings may contain lead amalgam as well. See the Chemical and Hazardous Waste section of this chapter for more information about handling and recycling lead. Gold can be found in art studios as well. Both pure copper and brass (which is an alloy typically made from copper and zinc) are prominent materials in electrical wiring and can be recovered during construction, demolition, and remodeling of campus buildings. These materials are also present in machine and auto shops as well as art studios. 

 Contact a local metals recycler to determine the process for recycling this material and the most cost effective collection and delivery methods. Some campuses manage the collection, maintain the area where the material is collected, and haul materials to market. Other options include negotiating an arrangement in which a metals processor provides a dumpster and regularly collects the material from a centralized location on campus. This method is efficient and probably more cost effective than the Campus Recycling Program taking responsibility for hauling the material to the processor. The campus maintenance division and construction contractors will be generating and handling most of this material.

 Automotive (tires, batteries, oil, antifreeze, oil filters)
Campus transportation shops may perform in-house maintenance on campus vehicles, manage service contracts so that local automotive shops are responsible for campus vehicle maintenance, or a combination of both. Fortunately, there are specific regulations for disposing of special waste generated in auto shop operations, thus reducing the need to monitor this at off-campus sites.

 For in-house campus auto shops, work to find markets/outlets for recycling tires, batteries, oil, oil filters, and antifreeze. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Department (sometimes located within the Environmental Health and Safety Department) on campus is responsible for monitoring and regulating any hazardous materials generated in auto shop areas.

 Request records of the amounts of materials recycled in campus auto shops to add to campus waste tracking. Create and distribute monthly tally sheets that can be submitted to the recycling program that track how the material was handled. Utilize conversion factors to determine how much each item weighs. If the item is not on conversion charts, determine a weight to be used in tracking by weighing a few similar versions of an item and calculating an average.

Auto parts in general provide many reuse and recycling opportunities, but tires in particular have been recycled a variety of ways in recent years. They are recycled to manufacture alternate fuels, speed bumps, mats, cushioning, flooring, tiles, irrigation tubes, decking, office supplies, planters, sound barriers, swings, and truck bed liners. One of the most promising uses is asphalt rubber which is made from ground or “crumb” rubber mixed with asphalt concrete. This technology prevents tires from being disposed of in landfills and also reduces the need for mining new materials for concrete.

Most tires are recycled through local tire dealers. For community collection opportunities, contact the local waste management division to find a drop off location. Though each state has different procedures, collections areas are frequently available in tire stores and automotive service stations. In some states, there is an advanced recovery fee charged when purchasing new tires. Unfortunately, many consumers are unaware of this and thus illegal dumping often includes tires.

 Oil is another commonly recycled item. Some areas only have oil filter recycling while other locations are able to clean and recover the oil itself. Places that recover oil often recover antifreeze as well. Contractors handle these items and auto shops have storage containers for collection of these materials.

 Pallets and Wood Waste
College campuses generate large quantities of pallets and other wood waste. As with any material, try to reuse wood products as much as possible before recycling them as this is a resource and energy intensive process. Paper recyclers often take pallets for reuse and in the instances when recycling becomes necessary, fortunately, wood waste recyclers are plentiful and should be easy to locate nearby campus. Collecting wood waste separately often can be less expensive (and is definitely a better environmental alternative) than landfilling. Local garbage companies will often provide commercial drop boxes specifically for wood. The campus recycling program could also work directly with a wood waste processor or forest products company. Determine the most efficient and cost effective method for collection.  Be aware of the rules regarding what is acceptable as wood waste. Typically cedar, laminate, particle board, pressure treated lumber, and pallets containing plastic are not accepted. Post a sign on the wood waste dumpsters and alert staff members and contractors to proper wood waste handling.

 Some pallets are made from precious rainforest wood and others are made from less valuable wood. In any case, these are packaging items that are often viewed by the sender as disposable, but in some cases they are valuable to shipping companies. Some companies actually take them back and reuse them, which is great step toward more sustainable business practices. Work with the campus Procurement Department to include “take back” of pallets into vending contracts. Certain types of pallets can be sold for reuse or ground up and sold as biofuel. If the campus owns a tub grinder, it is possible to grind up pallets on site to be applied as mulch on campus grounds. Collect pallets in a central location for reuse and recycling.

 At the University of Oregon, the Campus and Grounds Department has been milling trees that have had to be taken down due to wind storms or disease. This beautiful wood is being incorporated into campus projects from wall covering to shelving and even a desk for the University President.  Remember: everything is a resource until it ends up in the garbage can.

 Phone Books
Campus communities receive phone books once or twice a year: one campus directory and one local telephone company directory. Encourage the campus telephone services department to print the campus directory on white paper so that it can be recycled through regular recycling collection. Determine which category of paper the phone directories can be recycled with and alert the campus regarding proper recycling procedures.

 Local telephone books are usually made from recycled low grade newspaper. Work with the local phone book distributor to establish recycling collection for outdated books and check with a paper broker in order to determine how the books should be prepared prior to marketing.

 Through the campus telephone services, determine if the phone book distributor will take back the books directly, thus reducing the burden of marketing phone books as a special material. Consider that a crew on campus (typically a facilities crew) gets paid by campus telephone services to deliver new phone books. Create a similar arrangement with the recycling program so that the recycling program will not be responsible for labor and handling costs.

 Collecting phone books from campus is a labor intensive effort. If the recycled paper broker charges for these to be recycled, then the cost needs to be passed along to campus telephone services. In some cases, the local phone company will work with the recycling process to absorb any recycling costs on the “disposal” end, but internal costs need to be dealt with through campus telephone services.

 Most likely, telephone books will need to be collected in a separate toter or gaylord in order to be accepted for market. Coordinate with the crew delivering the phone books to deliver a memo to each department along with the phone books that explains how to recycle the phonebook when it becomes outdated. An easy way to handle these is to have departments call for a pick-up of 25 books or more. Schedule a weekly route to pick these up and taper off the collection after a month. Typically, the paper broker will set a limit on the length on time these will be accepted for as phone books are marketed and recycled as a special seasonal market.  

 Some campuses are reducing hard copy phone books by offering an online form that can be filled out to opt out of campus phone book delivery, thereby reducing paper and printing demands. Some campuses are issuing CD's of phone books and other campuses are choosing to eliminate phone book deliveries all together. With access to computers and cell phone directories, campuses are taking the opportunity to reduce this annual waste stream.

Junk Mail
College campuses, including housing areas, receive unsolicited bulk mailings from off-campus entities. This mail costs a substantial amount of money to receive, deliver and dispose of or recycle. By reducing unsolicited bulk mail, recycling programs are assisting campuses in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.  

For mail received by campus personnel and departments, work with the campus Printing Department to create a printed postcard that requests removal from mailing lists. Leave enough space on the postcard to paste the mailing label from the unsolicited mail or address the postcard to the appropriate company and send it through department mail. Departments can supply these postcards to staff.

Confidential Paper
College campuses generate large amounts of paper materials that include confidential information. Handling confidential materials is a serious matter and should not be overlooked in handling recyclables (especially paper). One option is to have an in-house operation. This is a labor intensive process that requires keeping the material separate, a high-speed shredder and plenty of room to store loose shredded paper or bales for market. Collecting pre-shredded materials from departments is a cumbersome and expensive method of managing these materials. Shredding is labor intensive for departments, a drain on campus electricity, expensive for recyclers to handle high volume/low density material, requires special equipment, and is an inefficient method for collecting this valuable paper resource.

Another option is to pay a contractor to come to campus and shred the material either on-campus in a special shredding truck or off-campus in a secure facility. This is the best method for cost-effectiveness, security and efficiency. Some contractors will even pulp the material after it is collected. It is each department's responsibility to follow all state and federal rules pertaining to document retention. When establishing a program for handling confidential documents, it is best to defer to the Records/Archives Department to determine the best management method. Be sure to request monthly totals to be included in waste tracking of recovered paper.

Electronic Waste/Computers
The issue of electronic waste or e-waste, especially from computers, is growing. College campuses upgrade computer equipment regularly, thus generating an impressive waste stream. Due to the numerous toxic metals contained in computer equipment, more colleges are looking at responsible strategies for managing this waste stream.  

Computers are no friend of the environment. Though the PC industry is sometimes thought of as “green,” in reality, the very nature of this industry involves pollution. Computers contain hundreds of environmentally degrading metals, acids, and plastics. Proper disposal of computers is a crucial step to take toward reducing environmental impact from the toxic materials contained in these items.    

  One strategy is to work with the campus Procurement Department to encourage computer manufacturers who sell their products to the college to adopt “take-back” or “buy-back” programs. If possible, add language in computer equipment vending contracts to address this issue. Include take-back and responsible disposal by the company in the purchasing agreement. Grassroots campaigns encouraging take-back programs are also a strategy that will get students on board with supporting such programs on campus.

Computers can also be donated and reused. Old computers are often thought of as “junk” but schools and community based organizations can get good use out of an old computer, thereby extending its life span and preventing it from becoming landfilled. Used working computers are valuable, so avoid disposal whenever possible. If disposal is the only option, it may be necessary to remove the toxic elements prior to disposal. Do this with great caution. In addition to hazardous materials, computers carry an electrical charge in the power supply long after being unplugged. Tampering with such devices may cause serious injury due to electric shock.  

Some Campus Recycling Programs have full-scale computer and electronics recovery/recycling programs where machines are dismantled into various components for reuse and recycling. To institute this type of program, make sure to work with the campus Environmental Health and Safety Department. Demanufacturing projects can be incorporated into technology-based education programs. Of course, re-building computers by swapping parts is the best strategy to reduce the actual final waste going into the landfill. As this issue grows, more opportunities are evolving to capture e-waste from plastic casing to the more valuable metals.    

As states are developing electronics take-back programs, local non-profits are emerging that take electronics and either refurbish or recycle the equipment. Check for such resources within the local area. 

Cell Phones
In recent years, a number of organizations have begun to collect cell phones for reuse by victims of domestic violence. Emergency numbers are preprogrammed into the phones so that help can be called easily. Phones are also collected for reuse by soldiers stationed overseas and disaster relief workers. Some cellular telephone companies have programs to collect old phones, some of which are salvaged and donated, while others are recycled. The Resources section of this chapter offers contact information for specific charities and companies that reuse or recycle used cell phones.  

Cassette Tapes (Audio and Video), CDs and Diskettes
Cassette tapes (audio and video) CDs and diskettes are also frequently included in college campus waste streams. Research options for recycling these items locally. Recycling companies that are already handling materials diverted from the campus waste stream may be able to recycle tapes, CDs, and diskettes as well, or may be able to offer suggestions as to another company that may be able to handle the waste. There are organizations that accept these types of materials for reuse in craft projects. CDs have the best recovery through plastic recyclers, while cassette type tapes and smaller computer disks can be recycled through the companies listed in the Resources section of this chapter.  

Film (Transparencies, Radiology, Print Shop, Art Studios, etc.)
Transparency film can be recycled. Check with local sources to locate any recycling opportunities in the area. If nothing is available locally, encourage campus departments to ship material directly for recycling. See the Resources section of this chapter for contact information for the 3M Transparency Recycling Program. Small amounts can be collected through the recycling program, but be cautious about accepting this material in large amounts as it is heavy and shipping is expensive. Radiology departments, print shops, and art/movie studios produce film that can be recycled using highly specialized processes. To locate a recycling company for this material, contact the company that produces the film. Be sure to determine if different types of film can be recycled together or if they need to be separated to increase marketability.   

Office Supplies
Surplus reusable office supplies can be donated to an on-campus Reusable Office Supply Exchange (R.O.S.E.) or Office Supply Collection and Reuse (OSCAR) program. Establish a self-serve area that employs students for shelving materials and general maintenance tasks. See Chapter 28: Reuse Exchanges and Waste Reductions for more information on establishing and maintaining an R.O.S.E. program. 

Furniture, Office Equipment, Miscellaneous
Check with the surplus department to find out how campus property is discarded and managed. Many college recycling programs end up working with, or fully managing, certain surplus items. Reuse these items whenever possible. Below is a list of ideas for redistributing surplus items so that they can be reused on campus. 

 Envelopes (Tyvek, Padded and Other)
College campuses generate large quantities of envelopes. Encourage reuse of padded and other envelopes for both on and off campus mailings. Campus mail services may also be willing to accept envelopes for reuse. Surplus letter envelopes can be reused as scratch paper.

Padded envelopes can be lined with low grade recyclable fiber or plastic bubble wrap. The latter is not recyclable, so continue to find ways to reuse such envelopes as many times as possible. Save any bubble-wrap lined envelopes that may be put into recycling bins by mistake. As these build up, make sure the campus community is informed of the surplus as it is likely that padded envelopes will be in demand somewhere on campus. They can also be placed in the campus Reusable Office Supply Exchange (R.O.S.E.) See Chapter 28: Reuse Exchanges and Waste Reduction for more information about establishing an R.O.S.E. program. There are also recycling programs for Tyvek envelopes through DuPont™ Tyvek®. Shipping is paid by the campus, but the material is recycled at no additional charge. See the Resources section at the end of this chapter for more information about DuPont™ Tyvek® recycling programs. If envelopes are generated in a large quantity in one area on campus, work with that area to collect and send envelopes recycling. If there are smaller quantities, send the envelopes through campus mail, collect them in recycling, and send off as needed.

 Imaging/Copier Supplies
Laser printer, inkjet, copier, and fax machine imaging supplies can be remanufactured. Programs range from donating to exchanging empties for credit towards a purchase of a new or remanufactured item, to being paid outright for returning the item for remanufacturing. Departments can often work directly with a contractor to recycle or refill cartridges. For items that are not exchanged or credited, the recycling program can receive payment for cartridges collected from campus. This is an excellent opportunity for the program to receive revenue with little effort.

Ideally, departments will close the loop by purchasing remanufactured cartridges (which saves money) and returning empty cartridges to be remanufactured. When initiating a program, educate the campus community about the cartridge recycling process and encourage the purchase of remanufactured cartridges. Make sure the remanufacturing company is reputable and that the remanufactured cartridges perform well. Solicit feedback from faculty and staff members who use the remanufactured cartridges to ensure product quality. Inkjet cartridges can be collected through campus mail, or contractors may provide small collection containers for departments. Other options include providing departments with pre-paid shipping mailers or labels so that cartridges may be sent in for recycling.   

Styrofoam Peanuts, Block Styrofoam, Bubble Wrap, and Six Pack Rings
Styrofoam (polystyrene) peanuts are plentiful on college campuses, but unfortunately are rarely able to be recycled. The good news is that this type of material is easily reused. Collect styrofoam peanuts and offer them to campus departments, mail services, and the college bookstore. Local mailing companies and product distributors may also be able to reuse packing peanuts. Purchasing styrofoam peanuts is expensive and there are many options for local reuse.  

While styrofoam (also called expanded polystyrene or EPS) is not a highly recyclable item, there is an emerging recycling market. Recycled expanded polystyrene is now being used as an aggregate material to manufacture light weight concrete. If there is no local processor for block styrofoam, the material is trash unless it can be reused in campus art projects or to ship fragile materials. It is extremely problematic because it does not break down in the landfill and is unwieldy to place in campus dumpsters.  

In hospitals and labs, specimens are shipped in styrofoam boxes that usually have a pre-paid mailing label attached. Educate researchers and staff about the label and encourage its use. There may be some options for secondary use within departments as certain departments sometimes have to buy these boxes. Keep campus departments informed about the availability of items like styrofoam blocks as there may be an occasional request for such items.  

Another waste management method is to encourage departments to return styrofoam items back to the original vendor with a note requesting that the material is reused or recycled. Unfortunately, often computers and other items are purchased without bids or vendor agreements. Work with the campus Procurement Department to include a contract clause encouraging waste reduction of packaging in vendor contracts and services. Include language that requires vendors to provide reduced waste packaging/products, with a preference for products/ packaging that will be taken back and reused by the vendor or at a minimum, can be recycled compatibly with the campus recycling program. If purchasing is de-centralized, keep departments informed on opportunities to reduce campus waste through purchasing.  

Bubble wrap is another packing material that is in demand for reuse. Contact mailing services and campus departments before disposing of bubble wrap as it is expensive to purchase new and is often wanted somewhere on campus. Network with departments to identify those that frequently generate bubble wrap and those that are currently purchasing bubble wrap. 

Six pack rings can also be collected and recycled. These are generated through the campus vending contract in campus kitchens and small campus convenience stores. Work with managers in these areas to encourage vendor take-back as part of the purchasing agreement. Hi-Cone is a packaging company that manufactures six pack rings and will send pre-paid mailing slips to schools wishing to participate in the Ring Leader Program so that rings can be sent directly back to the company. See Resources list for website information.  

If the recycling program ends up handling six pack rings, work with the vending company to collect and centralize these. Contact the processor that handles campus plastics in order to determine if there is a market locally. As always, research possible reuse options as well. Local schools, on campus child care centers and other organizations may be able to use the six pack rings to make pot holders, snowflake decorations, and even volleyball nets or other craft projects. 

Clothing and Canned Food
(See Chapter 24: Housing for more detailed information.)

Clothing and canned foods can be collected throughout the year at central drop-off locations. During the spring when students move out of on-campus housing, special collection points may be necessary to accommodate larger volumes of material and to provide easy access to students wishing to donate materials for reuse and recycling. Contact local charities to create collection sites and to determine types of items that are most needed by community members.

 Collection sites will need to be monitored to ensure that garbage is not thrown in with reusable items. Another option is to have a vendor set up permanent and/or temporary central drop-off locations that are staffed. Publicize special collections to encourage maximum participation.

 College residence halls and family housing areas are the best places to site this type of collection. Especially during move-outs, students are in a hurry to dump items. The amount of reusable products and materials that can be recovered is staggering. These collections benefit the local community while reducing the impact on the landfill.

 Some schools have created “yard sales” where students can sell or trade items they want to get rid of. Another option includes collecting items that are reusable and reselling them to new students in the fall. This can be a fun activity that can reduce impact on the campus waste stream while involving the campus community in being responsible for items that they are no longer using.

 Penn State University has created a Trash to Treasure program that involves the United Way. The campus and local community embraces end of the year move-outs with a highly visible effort involving hundreds of campus, local community and United Way volunteers. They collect items, bring it to Beaver Stadium, sort and display items and open the stadium to the community to purchase items collected from campus reuse efforts.  The money made goes to the United Way and the average earnings from this amazing project is over $50,000 annually! [20]  

 Other schools such as Ohio University work to set-up extensive reuse collection in campus neighborhoods during the end of the year move-outs from campus and local residences. [21]   These programs are priceless in creating collaboration to help low income families receive supplies to assist them in their time of need, while reducing the waste stream.

 Campus food drives are another opportunity to help the community at large and to educate the campus on waste reduction. Cooked food or raw food waste can be recycled or donated. Some schools have established programs with local charities/food banks to donate leftover prepared, but not served, food. Direct collection from the kitchens can be set-up with the food bank. Federal and state food preparation rules need to be followed in order to ensure that all food products being donated are safe for consumption. The campus kitchen manager or food bank manager should be familiar with the rules governing this practice. Otherwise, consider composting leftover food waste and yard waste. See Chapter 13: Composting for more information.

 Cooking Grease
Cooking grease is a common item that is recycled on a local level. Ask campus kitchen managers if cooking grease is currently being recycled. If not, look in the phone book or online for the nearest dealer or contact local restaurants to determine where and how local cooking grease is being recycled. Be sure to collect cooking grease at athletic events and other campus events that serve food.  

 Some schools have created on-campus biodiesel processors which can utilize campus cooking grease to fuel campus vehicles.

 Appliances
Appliances often require special handling because, in addition to scrap metals, hazardous chemicals (including ozone depleting substances) may be present and require special handling in the recycling or disposal process. Appliances may contain refrigerant, foam, plastic, glass, PCBs, mercury, and oil. Many state and local waste management specialists have developed programs for disposing of appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. The EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program partners with local organizations such as utility companies, manufacturers, universities, and other interested groups. [22] Some waste management companies will offer rebates for certain appliances which can offset some of the collection costs necessary for recovering appliances.

 Collection is typically done in a 20 yard dumpster or larger. More valuable materials (such as certain metals) may need to be separated and stored in a locked facility to prevent theft. Make sure that all rebates are made by check, not cash, and collect all receipts.

Chemical and Hazardous Waste
Campuses generate chemical and hazardous waste through campus operations such as construction and demolition and through academic classes that perform research and laboratory experiments. Campuses also generate chemical and hazardous waste in art studios, photo labs, engineering departments, campus hospitals, and through agricultural practices.

 Many campuses are placed in the high-volume generator category for chemical and hazardous waste. Thankfully, more and more recycling programs are becoming available to safely deal with specific types of hazardous waste. Find out how the campus Environmental Health and Safety Department is managing these chemicals and hazardous materials. This department should have records on what chemicals are produced and where they are located on campus. Some of these chemicals are probably already being recycled. Even if the recycling program does not directly handle such materials, the program should still be aware of proper handling procedures and advancements in recycling these materials. Typically, departments contact the Environmental Health and Safety Department for pick-up on items that need to be disposed of. Materials are collected according to hazardous material handling laws which include storage regulations.

 The program should track these materials along with other recyclables to create a complete picture of materials are being recycled on campus. Encourage campus departments to buy what they need as over purchasing will lead to expensive disposal fees for unneeded materials.

 Campuses work with local hazardous material contractors to dispose of toxic wastes. Perform reference checks on contractors and require certificates of disposal to track the amount of waste generated and note whether material is recycled or disposed of as hazardous waste. For example, though lead is a scrap metal, it may be necessary to handle it as a hazardous/special waste. It is sometimes contained in paint, pipes, and wall linings. Medical facilities generate lead in various practices; even lead aprons used for X-rays will become part of the waste stream when they have reached the end of their life cycle. The lead from these aprons can be recycled if it is removed from the plastic and accompanied by a certified letter stating that the lead is radiation free. Before collecting lead items, network with scrap metal dealers as many do not collect lead items.

 Mercury, another scrap metal, is also a hazardous waste. It is found in light bulbs, thermostats, thermometers, blood pressure devices, esophageal dilators, batteries, automobile switches, etc. Check with the campus Environmental Health and Safety Department to learn about the programs that are currently in the place to recapture mercury from its source. Options are growing for mercury recovery, while laws are being created to reduce the use of mercury in products and practices. Lead and mercury use should be discouraged whenever possible. These materials are expensive to manage in the disposal process.

 Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury and, as they are becoming more prevalent in campus and municipal waste streams, many communities have begun to set up special collection sites to handle them. Household hazardous waste collection facilities will generally accept CFLs. Consider working with the local MSW collector to establish periodic collection days for CFLs and other items containing mercury.

 Work with the Environmental Health and Safety Department and the facilities auto shop to ensure that motor oil, anti-freeze and other gas mixtures are being recycled. Campus automotive areas (including academic shops) are full of potential recyclable items including: auto parts for scrap metal, fluids like oil and anti-freeze, batteries, and tires.

 Universal Waste
Universal Wastes are items that are federally designated by the EPA as being hazardous, and therefore requiring special handling for recycling or disposal. These wastes include batteries, pesticides, mercury containing equipment, and bulbs/lamps. Federal regulation (administered by the EPA) governs the collection and management of such wastes. Management and treatment of universal waste may vary state by state. [23] See “Universal Waste” in the Resources section at the end of this chapter for both federal and state regulatory information. 

 Recycling programs are frequently designated the responsibility of handling the disposal of universal wastes. It is common for recycling program employees to collect, store and monitor these wastes. Consult with the campus Environmental Health and Safety Department to ensure that the program meets all state and federal guidelines for universal waste handling, treatment, and disposal. It can be very expensive to dispose of these wastes and not all universal wastes can be recycled, but there are plenty of contractors available to manage this specialized waste stream. Make sure to work with a reputable contractor; visit the recycling facility and obtain a certificate of disposal to ensure that items are being disposed of or recycled properly. This will allow the recycling program to minimize the risk of a contractor illegally dumping universal waste.

Tracking
When managing many of the special materials described above, a main part of the job will be tracking the amount of materials generated in which locations and determining disposal methods. Establish a variety of tracking systems that include comprehensive documentation of the campus waste stream while separating specific areas (e.g. housing, dining, and facilities) and materials (hazardous wastes, organics, reusable supplies.) Record both recycling/disposal costs and revenue paid. Tracking is the most important documentation for a recycling program as it provides endless information that will support the continued existence of the program by proving cost effectiveness. See Chapter 7: Tracking Materials and Cost Benefits for more information.

 Getting the Word Out
It is sometimes difficult to get the word out about all the recovery opportunities available through the campus recycling program, but this is especially important when dealing with less easily recyclable materials. Encourage awareness and inspire campus participants to ask the question: Can it be recycled or reused?

 Create a departmental contact email list (which includes student groups) and post important program resources annually, or more frequently if there are any programmatic changes. Create and promote a materials recovery list that is accessible from the program website. Target areas that generate special materials and keep personnel informed on new markets and handling procedures. See Chapter 22: Education and Promotion- Getting the Word Out for campus outreach ideas.

Resources

General Information                      

How Can I Recycle This?
http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/ 

Recycling More Obscure Materials
http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/hard.html  

University of Massachusetts Amherst
http://www.umass.edu/recycle/recycling_othermaterials.shtml 

Asphalt, Brick, and Concrete 
See Chapter 12: Construction and Demolition Recycling Resources section

Scrap Metal

Brass Recycling- Action Recycling Center
http://www.actionrecyclingcenter.com/brass_recycling_0.html 

Copper Recycling- Action Recycling Center
http://www.actionrecyclingcenter.com/copper_recycling_0.html                                               

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
http://www.isri.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home1 

Precious Metal Recycling- Action Recycling Center
http://www.actionrecyclingcenter.com/precious_metal_recycling_0.html 

Silver Recovery (Kodak)
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=4234&pq-locale=en_US 

Steel Recycling Institute
http://www.recycle-steel.org/ 

Automotive (tires, batteries, oil, antifreeze, oil filters, etc.)  

Automotive Service Equipment- Antifreeze Recycling
http://www.asedeals.com/ARU2.html 

Battery Council International
http://www.batterycouncil.org 

Call2Recycle- Rechargeable Battery Recycling
http://www.call2recycle.org/home.php?c=1&w=1&r=Y 

EPA- Antifreeze                      
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/antifree.htm 

Filter Manufacturers Council
http://www.filtercouncil.org/ 

Used Oil Management Association
http://usedoilrecycling.com/en

 Pallets and Wood Waste

 CHEP- Pallet and Container Pooling
http://www.chep.com/

 EPA- Wood Waste
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/organics/woodwaste.htm 

USDA Forest Service- “Successful Approaches to Recycling Urban Wood Waste”
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr133.pdf 

Junk Mail 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.shtm 

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
http://www.stopjunkmail.org.uk/guide/mps.php

 Confidential Papers

 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill- Confidential Paper Recycling         
http://fac.unc.edu/wastereduction/Recyclables/cpr.asp

 Shred-It
http://www.shredit.com/ 

Electronic Waste/ Computers

 Apple Recycling Program
http://www.apple.com/recycling/computer/

 Dell Computer Recycling and Exchange
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/dell_recycling?c=us&l=en&cs=19

Computer Recycling Centers by Location         
http://search.earth911.com/?what=computers&where=&latitude=&longitude=&country=&province=&city

 EPA eCycling
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/ 

EPA “Where You Live” eCycling Resources
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/live.htm 

Gateway Technology Trade-in Center
http://gateway.eztradein.com/gateway/howitworks.cfm?section=2 

Grassroots Recycling Network Computer TakeBack Campaign
http://www.grrn.org/e-scrap/index.html 

The Green Guide to Recycling Appliances and Electronics
http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/Guide-to-Recycling-Appliances-and-Electronics.aspx

 National Cristina Foundation (Computer Donations)
http://www.cristina.org/

 Nonprofit Recycling and Reuse Network
http://www.recycles.org/ 

Orion Blue Book Online
http://www.usedprice.com/

 Where to Donate and Recycle Used Computer Equipment
http://www.usedcomputer.com/nonprof.html

 Cell Phones

 Charity Guide- Cell Phone Recycling: Donate Your Old Mobile Phone
http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/cell-phone-recycling.htm

 Collective Good Mobile Phone Recycling
http://collectivegood.com/ 

Don't Trash Your Cell Phone- Recycle It!
http://www.recyclemycellphone.org 

Eco-Cell
http://eco-cell.com/ 

Cassette Tapes (Audio and Video), Diskettes, CDs and DVDs

 CD Recycling Center of America
http://cdrecyclingcenter.org/

 Far West Fibers
http://www.farwestfibers.com/

 GreenDisk
http://www.greendisk.com/ 

Polymer Recovery Systems
http://www.prsi.com/ 

Recycle for Breast Cancer
http://www.recycleforbreastcancer.org/

 WTP Recycling
P.O. Box 4563
Orland, CA 95963
Phone: (530) 865-8708 or 510-5309
Email: wtasto@orland.net        

 Film

 3M Transparency Recycling Program
c/o Gemark
99 Stevens Lane
Pittston, PA, 18643
Call (800) 328-1371 for a free recycling kit and brochure.
http://solutions.3m.com

 Envelopes (Tyvek, Padded, and Other)

 DuPont™ Tyvek® Nationwide Recycling Program
http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Envelopes/en_US/tech_info/tech_environ.html

 Imaging/Copier Supplies

 Cartridges for Kids
http://www.cartridgesforkids.com/

 Styrofoam Peanuts, Block Styrofoam, Bubble Wrap, and Six Pack Rings 

Earth911- Recycling Mystery: Expanded Polystyrene
http://earth911.com/news/2009/03/09/recycling-mysteries-styrofoam/ 

ITW Hi-Cone- Six Pack Ring Recycling
http://www.hi-cone.com/index.php?id=39

 The Lightweight Concrete Company
http://lightweightconcreteco.com/products/foamlite/manufacturing 

Clothing and Canned Food 

Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Full Text)
http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/appc.htm 

Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
http://www.goodwill.org/get-involved/donate/

 Salvation Army                                                
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org 

Society of St. Andrew Gleaning Network
http://www.endhunger.org/gleaning_network.htm 

USDA Citizen's Guide to Food Recovery
http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/content.htm   

 Mercury, Lead and Other Metals
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/

 Appliances

 Appliance Recycling Centers of America
http://www.arcainc.com/home.html

 The Green Guide to Recycling Appliances and Electronics
http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/Guide-to-Recycling-Appliances-and-Electronics.aspx

 Jaco Environmental Inc.
http://www.jacoinc.net/

 PG&E Recycling Rebate Program
http://www.appliancerecycling.com/weborder/rebatex.aspx?ProgramID=1 

Chemical and Hazardous Waste  

EPA Hazardous Waste Recycling
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/recycling/

 EPA Household Hazardous Waste
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/hhw.htm

 CBG Biotech (Solvent Recycling Company)
http://www.cbgbiotech.com/

 Clean Harbors Environmental, Energy, and Industrial Services
http://cleanharbors.com/

 State Environmental Resource Center- Mercury Reduction
http://www.serconline.org/mercury/stateactivity.html

 Universal Waste
 http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/