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Recycling: Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials can be recycled on Georgia State's campus? The goal of the GSU Recycling Team is to capture 100% of GSU’s recycling. We have standardized each participating building’s recycling area so everyone will know exactly where to place recycling in the buildings. All recycling must be clean, empty, and contain no trace of food. Your cooperation makes our recycling program a success!!!

  • All participating classroom buildings have a paper bin on the first floor, and a bottles and cans bin centrally located on every floor
  • All office buildings have a bottles and cans bin on every floor, and each person has a desk-side bin which they empty into the big bin on their floor
  • Participating buildings have a Coca-Cola bottles and cans bin next to the vending machines
  • Bring corrugated cardboard to your building’s recycling area (usually the basement or dock)
  • Styrofoam can be placed in your building’s recycling area
  • Every parking garage has a bottles and cans bin on the first level
  • Ink and toner recycling can be brought to the bin at Courtland South, 120 Collins St. directly across from G deck.
  • Cell phones can be recycled at the same location and benefit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/green_initiatives/cell_recycling
  • Batteries can also be recycled at Courtland South
  • Any metal can be placed on the pallet behind Courtland South
  • Clothing and household items are collected year-round in bins placed in the dorms, then donated to various charities in our area (list is available)
  • SunTrust, Commerce Building, and 75 Piedmont have personal recycling stations which each person is responsible for emptying into the larger bins located on their floor

Do you recycle toner cartridges? Mail Services has teamed up with Recycling to offer a more convenient way to recycle your ink and toner cartridges. Until further notice, Mail Services will pick up and recycle any toner placed in your outgoing mail bin. If you have an empty toner cartridge, simply place it with your outgoing mail and Mail Services will take care of the rest. Toner recycling will still be offered in the bin placed in Courtland South if you prefer to recycle your own toner.

Which materials can NOT be recycled on Georgia State's campus? Any item which is dirty or contains food traces. Paper towels, plastic bags, Saran Wrap, and coffee cups are not recyclable. Bring your own hand towel, reusable shopping bag, containers, and coffee mug to help make a difference!

I have a recycling bin in my office, but when it gets full I'm not sure what to do. Who can I call to have it emptied? If it is a desk-side paper bin or a personal recycling station you are responsible for emptying the bin(s) into the larger bins located on your floor. Call Building Services at 3-0600 for pick-up if the large bins get full. You can also call to request more bins for move-outs if necessary.

Are there any special days or programs where particular materials are accepted-- for example, an electronics recycling day or the like? We will be promoting our recycling initiative during the week of America Recycles Day, November 15th, but we accept all recycling year round. We will also be at games and events here and at the GA Dome to collect recycling. To volunteer please email recycle@gsu.edu.

Does Georgia State compost? Yes. The Dining Halls compost their food scraps. Renovations composts their sawdust.

What about recycling rain water runoff? There are several 250-gallon rain water collection barrels throughout campus.

What are some of GSU’s recycling efforts?

  • Our goal is to capture 100% of our university’s recycling. We recycle anything that is recyclable from bottles and cans to Styrofoam. Our cell phone recycling program benefits the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International program at Zoo Atlanta.
  • All new departments will receive a personal recycling station rather than a paper bin and a trash can. The personal recycling station consists of a 14 quart paper recycling bin, then clipped on to that is a 7 quart bin for bottles and cans, and clipped to the other side is an even smaller bin with a lid that is for landfill waste. No liners would be used in the bins immediately reducing cost and waste per person. Each person would be responsible for emptying and keeping their station clean. This raises awareness about their waste activities as they sort their items into their bins and then later the big bins. As soon as the bins arrive they will be placed at SunTrust Annex, 34 Broad St., and 75 Piedmont.
  • Recycling has been meeting with catering, reservations, and the dining halls to initiate recycling and promote more sustainable alternatives to their current operations. Piedmont North has a lovely herb garden made out of repurposed pallets.
  • Renovations and Maintenance has agreed to recycle all of their materials. There is a pallet behind Courtland South where they put their metal and wire scraps. If they are doing a large job we go there to pick up their recyclables. We have even found a company that will compost their sawdust.
  • Game Day Recycling. We will be providing volunteers for our games and Falcons games at the GA Dome, as well as events and games at the Sports Arena. We will be collecting recycling during tailgating, at the gates, and walking the aisles during the games. We hope to get enough support to also provide volunteers for the Chick-fil-A Bowl games.
  • This year we provided unlimited bins to collect clothing, food, and household items during Move Out Day. We were able to donate over 100 bins of clothing to local charities thanks to this effort. We are going to provide bins year round in housing to collect items throughout the year.
  • We are starting a cups-free initiative in areas with a water cooler. No disposable cups will be provided so each person will have to bring their own.