OSU Recycles - Behind-the-Scenes

Facilities Management, Environmental Health & Safety, and Transportation Services repurpose, reuse, and recycle a lot of used or discarded OSU property “behind the scenes” – in other words, most of us don’t even realize all these items are being recycled.

Read on to determine if you have a role in recycling any of these materials.

Auto Batteries

• Facilities Management and Transportation Services collect used auto batteries for recycling.

Fluorescent Light Bulbs/Tubes

• Facilities Management and Res Life maintenance personnel recycle used mercury-containing light bulbs with Universal Recycling Technologies using the WasteSecure mail-back program. Contact OSU Sustainability for more information.

HFCs (refrigerants)

• Refrigerants are carefully removed from appliances and recycled.

Lab Chemicals

• Environmental Health & Safety collects and recycles discarded lab chemicals.
• Generators should complete a Chemical Removal Request Form in order to have the chemicals removed.
• Print and mail or scan and email forms, attn.: EH&S, 002 University Health Services.

Lab Glass

• Environmental Health & Safety recycles glass generated through the use and recycling of discarded chemicals.
• For broken lab glass, For broken lab glass, carefully box up broken pieces, tape the box closed, mark it “TRASH – DO NOT RECYCLE” and dispose of it in an outdoor beige trash dumpster.

Organic Material

• Some produce scraps from dining services, manure from Rodeo Club, pet bedding from Vet Med, and landscape waste are kept for local farmers to use in composting.

Rechargeable Batteries

• Generators should complete a Chemical Removal Request Form. 
• Print and mail or scan and email forms, attn.: EH&S, 002 University Health Services.
• Tape terminal ends; store in non-metal container until picked up by EHS.

Scrap Metal

• Complete a work order through the customer portal to arrange for scrap metal to be picked up. 
• Scrap metal revenue goes toward the purchase of new tools and equipment.
• There is no charge for this service.

Tires

• Facilities Management and Transportation Services collect motor vehicle tires for recycling.

Used Electronics

• Used electronics belonging to OSU are placed in Surplus and then sold at auction.
• Items not sold at auction are recycled by a certified e-waste recycler.
• Note: Personal electronics can be taken to OrangeTech to be recycled.

Used Cooking Oil

• Cooking oil, fat, and grease are collected from dining service areas for rendering.

Used Motor Oil

• Facilities Management and Transportation Services (OSU Motor Pool at Farm & Western Roads) collect motor oil for recycling.

Wooden Pallets

• Facilities Management collects wood pallets for recycling.
• Vendor does not pay for blue or off-size pallets but does recycle them.
   

Looking to recycle something else?  Check OSU Sustainability’s Other Recycling webpage for more information.