Recycling is an important step in reducing the waste our university creates. This in turn greatly reduces the amount of carbon emissions resulting from landfills that the university contributes to. Plus, Kentucky is home to many recycling facilities, so by recycling, you’re helping support local Kentucky jobs!
Mixed recycling refers to the general recycling stream from the blue bins on campus, which means you can put all recyclable materials in the same bin. Discover what you can recycle by using the Waste Wizard.
Yes, UK Recycling has changed the language they used to describe the blue, general recycling containers on campus from all-in-one to mixed recyclables in order to more accurately describe the acceptable contents.
NO! Everything placed in the mixed recycling containers at UK is transported to our partners at WestRock who carefully sorts everything placed in the bin. Then, they transport those sorted materials to different facilities to be manufactured into new products.
After they are picked up, the recycled materials are placed into a recycling compactor or dumpster on campus. A truck then services these compactors and the material is sent to WestRock in Louisville, Kentucky to be sorted. There, each material is sent to a corresponding facility to be processed and recycled into new products.
Contamination happens when non-recyclable items are put in with recyclables or when recyclables are soiled with food or oils. Too much contamination is one of the reasons manufacturers may reject recyclables.
Yes, we encourage everyone to leave lids ON when recycling in order to keep our stream clean and insect and odor-free.
No, but they do have to be empty and reasonably clean.
UK and the city of Lexington send their recyclable materials to different facilities. So, whether you live in Lexington or another town nearby, make sure to check your local guides for what is recyclable in your local recycling stream.
Yes! Cardboard boxes can be recycled on campus and must be flattened.
Cardboard boxes take up a lot of space in the recycling container. Breaking them down or flattening them before placing them in the container saves space and creates additional capacity to recycle even more items.
UK does not recycle plastics based on the number. Instead, we accept all plastic jugs, bottles, and cups as well as plastic to-go containers and household containers. Discover what you can recycle by using the Waste Wizard!
UK does not recycle Styrofoam of any kind in the mixed recycling containers. However, Styrofoam coolers are able to be recycled through a separate program through UK Recycling. You can request service for Styrofoam coolers or contact UK Recycling at recycle@uky.edu.
The recyclability of materials depends on 1) available downstream markets 2) ability to properly sort and separate material at the designated material recovery facility, or MRF for short, and 3) willingness of the local material recovery facility to accept the material. Unsure if an item can be recycled? Check out our “IDK Bin”!