OSU Recycles - Accepted Materials | Oklahoma State University

OSU Recycles - Accepted Materials

What, Where, and How to Recycle at OSU Stillwater.

OSU Recycles Logo

The OSU Recycles program applies to work and study areas of campus. This is a Dual-Stream program (paper/cardboard in one stream & bottles/cans in another stream). For Mixed residential recycling on campus, visit ResLife Recycles.

PAPER RECYCLING
Place these materials inside white paper recycle boxes (or other recycle bins marked "Paper") found in hallways, foyers, computer labs, and copy rooms. As of May 2013, these items may now be mixed in the same paper recycle bin:

Letterhead
Bond Paper
Copier paper
Notebook paper
Computer printer paper
Carbonless paper
White paper printed with colored ink
Colored paper
Newspaper
Magazines, Journals
Brochures, catalogs
Junk mail
Envelopes (with and without plastic windows)
Shredded white paper (place in clear bags next to the recycle box or other designated area)
Sprocket edges from form-feed paper (please bag with shredded paper)
Telephone books
Softcover books*
File folders
Glossy paper
Stapled paper
Flattened paperboard or chipboard (e.g. cereal box material)
Small pieces of flattened cardboard (take large pieces to outdoor green recycle cardboard dumpsters)
Staples may remain in paper (they are removed later by magnets during the re-pulping process)

*Before recycling, share with friends and family or donate to the Stillwater Public Library.

BOTTLE & CAN RECYCLING

Place these materials in the blue Dream Machine bins found indoors and outdoors:

Aluminum cans (please empty before recycling)
#1 & #2 plastic bottles (please empty before recycling and screw cap back on)

CARDBOARD RECYCLING

Place these materials in the green outdoor dumpsters labeled Cardboard or wedge behind an indoor paper recycle bin (between the bin and the wall):

Flattened corrugated cardboard boxes

UNACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

Do not include these materials in campus recycle bins:

Carbon paper, paper towels, tissues, soiled paper
Food wrappers or residuals
Paper or plastic cups, plates, trays
Disposable utensils
Greasy pizza boxes (clean sections are acceptable)
Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) of any kind
Plastic bags or baggies
Glass of any kind

For more detailed information on recyclable materials, visit http://sustainability.okstate.edu/recycling-overview.

RECYCLING IN YOUR BUILDING

Your building’s custodians collect flattened cardboard, bags of paper, shredded paper, and bottles/cans and place those tied-off bags into a green recycle dumpster outdoors. Click on the map below to see the locations of outdoor green dumpsters (last updated Feb. 2021). Green denotes the Cardboard/Paper only dumpsters, and orange denotes the mixed dumpsters

Republic Services moves recyclables from the Green Dumpsters to the OSU Recycle Center where the materials are sorted, baled, and stored for sale or donation. To organize a group tour of the Center, e-mail recycle@okstate.edu.

If you have a cleaning day or other activity that generates more paper or cardboard than usual, request a "Special Clean-out Recycle Cart" by contacting the Recycling Department at recycle@okstate.edu or 744-4354 or use the online Customer Portal (no charge for special cleanout recycle service).

BEYOND RECYCLING

Take that next step; go beyond recycling by reducing and reusing your waste! Reducing and reusing is even better than recycling! Follow these links to learn tips on how to reduce your impact and if you want to take it a step further check out these sustainability tips!

RECYCLING VIDEOS

OSU RECYCLES!
OSU's Sustainability Interns tell you how and why to recycle in the OSU Recycles (non-residential) campus program.

OSU students made this video featuring Cowboy Basketball's leading shot blocker, Michael Cobbins:

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OSU RECYCLES PROGRAM ONLY ACCEPTS MATERIALS GENERATED ON CAMPUS, NOT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.