AURARIA WASTE
USING THIS GUIDE
In a Fall 2018 waste audit, the ASCP discovered that, on average, 53% of the material in our surveyed landfill bins is compostable. We also know that plastics, which often end up in our campus landfill bins, never really decompose, but just fracture into smaller and smaller pieces to be ingested by wildlife and, eventually, humans.
Note: The Auraria campus is serviced by Republic Services. All waste haulers and processors accept different materials and offer different collection guidelines. This guide reflects Republic's guidelines and may differ from the waste hauler servicing your house/apartment.
COMPOST
Where does it go? Compost recycling is the process of taking organic matter and turning it into soil compost which is a nutrient rich soil amendment. Auraria’s organics are collected by students and is turned into compost here on campus. The compost is then used to amend our plants, grasses, and trees on campus!
How to? You cannot compost any single stream recycling items or ones with chemical residue on them. Items you should compost include:
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ALL food items, including
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Produce – remove the sticker!
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Cooked and raw meat & dairy products
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Bones, fish, eggshells
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Soiled wooden and paper items:
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Paper towels and napkins
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Greasy pizza boxes – if clean, recycle them!
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Remove tape, labels, and/or liners
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Chopsticks, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, wooden stir sticks
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Uncoated paper plates
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Coffee filters
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Plants and flowers
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Compostable food packaging and soiled paper products that are either BPI Certified Compostable (BPI), Compost Manufacturing Alliance Certified (CMA), PLA 7, or OK COMPOST
RECYCLING
Where does it go? Recycled items are reconstructed into new bottles, cans, or paper. Auraria Campus supports single stream recycling, meaning paper, plastic, metal and glass are all recycled in one bin.
How to? You cannot recycle Styrofoam, shrink wrap, or anything smaller than a business card (ie: creamer cups). Items must be CLEAN or our waste hauler will send them to the landfill. Be sure to wipe off leftover food residue with a napkin and throw the soiled napkin in the compost bin. Items you should recycle include:
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All types of paper, including:
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Printer paper
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Note: shredded paper can be composted or recycled with special instructions. See below.
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Newspaper
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Magazines
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Cardboard - must be flattened
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Mail
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Rigid plastic containers
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Plastic jugs and bottles marked #1, #2, #5
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Note: include the plastic bottle cap on top, it can be recycled too!
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TIP: wipe out the containers with a paper napkin and compost the napkin!
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Plastic lined paper cups, including:
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Soda cups
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Coffee cups
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Note: plastic cup lids are not recyclable
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Aluminum cans – don’t crush them!
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Aluminum foil – must be balled up and at least the size of a tennis ball
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Tetra Pak cardboard cartons – milk, juice, etc.
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Glass bottles - remove the cap
LANDFILL
Where does it go? Landfill waste is piled into cells, layered with dirt, and left to sit—largely unchanged—forever. Over time, organic materials in landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
How to? Do your part to help keep compostable and recyclable items out of landfills. Items that should be put in the landfill bin:
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#6 plastic beverage cups
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Metal bottle caps and lids
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Condiment packets
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Creamer containers
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Plastic lids
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Plastic utensils, plates, stir sticks, straws
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Plastic straws
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Plastic wrappers (chips, candy, bars)
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Plastic clamshell containers
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Plastic bags
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Styrofoam cups and clamshell containers
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Anything recyclables majorly contaminated with food residue
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Anything smaller than a business card (i.e. metal bottle caps and lids, condiment packets, creamer containers, plastic etc.)
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Shrink-wrap and plastic wrap
Hard to Recycle Items
Happy to help you dispose of your hard to recycle materials through our four programs by visiting the H2R page!
"What About This?"
Here are some helpful tips on tricky or hard-to-recycle items:
LIDS
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Thin plastic soda and coffee lids are NOT recyclable through Republic, even though they have a recycling symbol and #.
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Bottle/Jar Lids: If a lid is the same material as the bottle (ie: plastic on plastic), keep it on. If it is different (metal lid, glass bottle), remove the lid.
Many items CAN be recycled if they are batched together at special collection sites:
E-WASTE
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You can drop off e-waste in e-waste bins located in front of the Tivoli Station Bookstore and in the northeast corner of the Arts Building. Acceptable items include:
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batteries, power cords, small electronics (1.5” thick or less), laptops, tablets, and phones
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The ASCP hosts two e-waste recycling events throughout the year for larger electronic items. Text ASCP to 22828 to sign up for the ASCP Newsletter, where events will be announced.
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PLASTIC BAGS
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Plastic bags can be recycled in batches at many grocery stores, including most Albertsons, King Soopers, Safeway, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, and Target. Collection receptacles are often located near store entrances. Ask your local grocer where these bins are located.
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SHREDDED PAPER
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Shredded paper will clog the machines at many sorting facilities. However, you can compost it, recycle it by putting it in a closed paper bag or cereal box, or save the shredding for the professionals at places like Office Depot or Shred Nations, who will responsibly recycle the shredded paper for you. See Denver's Trash and Recycling Directory for more info.
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AMAZON PACKAGING
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You can recycle some Amazon packaging at select drop-off locations! Find out if/how to recycle your Amazon packaging on Amazon's site and through the Wrap Recycling Action Program
OTHER
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The Denver Trash and Recycling Directory allows you to type in the name of the material you would like to recycle and learn where to recycle or compost just about anything!
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Still have hard-to-recycle waste? Check out terracycle.com before you give up!