Frequently Asked Questions

Recycling is an easy way for you to help make a positive impact on UNL and the surrounding Lincoln community. Recycling, when done correctly, can save valuable space in landfills and conserve natural resources. To recycle right, it is important that you only put items into the recycling stream that you are confident can be recycled- paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. Recyclables that are mixed with contaminants like food waste, plastic bags, non-recyclable plastics, and more are often sent to the landfill, which wastes valuable resources like time and money. Stick to the basics and when in doubt, throw it out!

Recycling at UNL is a team effort, and we rely on a lot of important stakeholders to make it happen! Recycling efforts in campus buildings not yet participating in the All in the Hall program are managed internally and each building or department is responsible for coordinating how their indoor recycling containers are emptied into central recycling collection totes- which are located on the building dock or in an outdoor dumpster area. This is typically done by volunteer faculty, staff, or students.

Recycling is only possible at UNL when we all work together. In campus buildings not yet participating in the All in the Hall program, the servicing of interior recycling containers is the responsibility of building occupants. Contact your Building Maintenance Reporter(s) to learn more about the specific process in your building. In All in the Hall buildings, please see the related FAQ: What do I do if my nearest station is full?

UNL employs a team of Refuse and Recycling Material Collectors that drive our fleet of university owned trucks around campus to collect waste items from buildings. Recyclables are picked up regularly and taken directly to Green Quest Recycling in downtown Lincoln, where materials are weighed, further separated by commodity and grade, and baled to be sold and shipped to companies that make them into new products. Learn more by checking out the Journey of Waste at UNL Infographic.

UNL collects a variety of recyclable items commonly found on campus including empty plastic bottles and cans from vending machines, cardboard, old papers, envelopes, and sticky notes! Visit the Accepted Materials page to learn more about what items can be recycled at UNL. Familiarize yourself with these items so that you can make the smart choice and recycle right!

It is not economically feasible for the University to offer campus-wide composting at this time. UNL Dining Services is gradually installing biodigesters in campus dining centers to divert organic food waste from the landfill. Biodigesters accept organic waste materials and combine it with an enzyme that facilitates breakdown of the food, producing grey water that is cycled back into Lincoln wastewater treatment facilities.

UNL practices multi-stream recycling, meaning that we have multiple recycling streams: Cardboard, Paper, Plastic Bottles and Aluminum Cans. It is necessary for recyclable materials to be separated appropriately, because Refuse and Diversion drivers haul the different material types separately from one another to avoid contamination. This ensures that each commodity stays as clean as possible during the transport process, making it easier for Green Quest to accept and process the materials. Recyclables with high rates of contamination cannot be recycled and are typically sent to the landfill. Learn more about how to avoid this and correctly sort your recyclables by visiting the Accepted Materials page.

• Books: Paperback books can be recycled with office paper in the paper recycling stream. If you have a large quantity of hardcover books to be recycled, please email sustainability@unl.edu to request a special pickup.
• Coffee cups: Unfortunately, paper coffee cups are not recyclable. Most of these types of cups contain an internal plastic or wax coating to provide insulation and waterproofing, which makes them very difficult to recycle. Please dispose of your cup and its cardboard sleeve in the trash, or better yet, bring a reusable mug to be filled up at your favorite shop! Most coffee shops on campus and around Lincoln offer a cup discount- saving you money and protecting our environment!
• Glass: Glass is not currently recycled at UNL. The City of Lincoln accepts clean and dry glass bottles and jars at Consumer Recyclables Collection Sites. Glass recyclables in Lincoln are eventually shipped to Ripple Glass in Kansas City to be processed and recycled into new bottles and fiberglass insulation!
• Air pockets, plastic bags, and other plastic films: Air pockets, bubble wrap, and plastic grocery bags are considered plastic films. Plastic films are not able to be recycled with UNL’s ‘Plastic Bottles and Containers’ recycling stream because they create a hazard for recycling processors. These items can cause recycling sorting machines to malfunction, shut down, or even catch fire. On campus, these items should be disposed of in the landfill stream on campus. However, these items are able to be recycled via drop off at specialized collection sites at local grocery stores and other retail sites where they are transported to a specialized recycler and most often processed into composite lumber used for building decks, playgrounds, benches, and even recycling bins! Visit https://bagandfilmrecycling.org/ to learn more.

Used ink and toner cartridges can be packaged and returned to UNL Mail Services with other regular campus mail. The ink and toner cartridges that are received from campus are packed on pallets and shipped to Environmental Office Solutions in Colorado. Cartridges are then sorted based on condition and end market requirements and ultimately sold to cartridge fillers for refill and reuse.

Pallets are picked up from most buildings on a weekly basis and can be left near your building's dumpster. If you have a special request, please contact the Facilities Service Desk at 402-472-1550 or servicedesk@unl.edu

UNL Recycling does not provide shredding services. UNL Printing Services runs a shredding program on campus and can handle shredding needs ranging from small quantities to larger projects. Visit the Printing Services website for more information.

No. Contact UNL Environmental Health and Safety provides guidance on safe disposal of all hazardous materials- including batteries, lightbulbs, electronics and more. Contact EHS at 402-472-4925 or ehs@unl.edu for information.

Yes! The UNL Inventory, Surplus and Asset Management Department provides the UNL community with direction and guidance regarding fixed asset acquisition, transfer, and reuse of unwanted surplus property on campus. They hold a weekly open house at their East Campus warehouse where campus units can purchase items for departmental use at a reduced cost. Inventory auctions open to the public are also held every 2-3 months. Visit https://inventory.unl.edu/ to learn more.

No. The university does not have the capacity to accept recyclable materials produced by faculty, staff, and students off campus. Please only use UNL recycling services for waste generated on campus.

The City of Lincoln Solid Waste Management Division operates Residential Consumer Recyclables Collection Sites throughout Lincoln for household use. Additionally, all garbage collectors operating within the City offer recycling as a curbside pickup service. Visit the City of Lincoln to learn more.