Accepted Materials

Aerial view of City Campus

Accepted Materials

Download Recycling Guide

Cardboard

Accepted

NOTE: *ALL ITEMS MUST BE CLEAN, DRY, AND BROKEN DOWN TO BE ACCEPTED*

  • Corrugated Cardboard

  • Pizza boxes *must be free of contaminants including solid food residue and other waste items, small grease stains are okay

Unaccepted

  • Soiled, wet, or contaminated cardboard

Paper

Accepted

  • Colored and white copy paper

  • Notebook paper

  • Mail and envelopes

  • Sticky notes

  • Paperback books

  • Journals and magazines

  • File folders and cardstock

  • Bagged shredded paper

  • Non-corrugated cardboard and paperboard (ex. cereal, soda can, tissue boxes, etc.)

  • Brown kraft paper and paper bags

  • Newspaper

  • Molded pulp packaging

Unaccepted

  • Papers with binder clips, paper clips, or spiral binding. Please remove these items prior to recycling. 

  • Paper towels, tissues, napkins

  • Paper plates and coffee cups

  • Soiled or wet paper

Plastic Bottles & Containers

Accepted

NOTE: *ALL ITEMS MUST BE FREE OF FOOD AND LIQUID*

  • Plastic items #1, #2, and #5 including clean and dry plastic beverage bottles, cups, and clear clamshell containers.

Unaccepted

  • Styrofoam products

  • Motor oil and chemical containers (please visit https://ehs.unl.edu/ for direction)

  • Plastic plates or silverware

  • Plastic films including grocery bags, bubble wrap, and other packaging material (please return these to local grocery and retail stores for special collection)

  • K-cups or food wrappers

Aluminum Cans

Accepted

NOTE: *ALL ITEMS MUST BE FREE OF FOOD AND LIQUID*

  • Aluminum Cans

Unaccepted

When in Doubt, Throw it out!

Have questions? Email sustainability@unl.edu