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UK student throwing away her recyclables in the compactor.

The Recycling Bag is a recycling pilot in Donovan Hall, Haggin Hall, and Lyman T. Johnson Hall. At UK, we want to make recycling as easy as possible for everyone. The goal of this pilot is to test if The Recycling Bag will improve the ease of recycling for wildcats who live on campus.

How to use The Recycling Bag

Use The Recycling Bag as you would use any recycling bin to collect your waste. When your bag is full, take it to your residence hall's recycling compactor, empty the contents using the handle on the bottom of the bag and bring it back to your room to be used again.

You can recycle and use the bag confidently:

  1. Remove the last serving of food from your recyclables.
  2. You do NOT have to clean any of your recyclables before throwing them away.
  3. Only recycle items bigger than a credit card.

A great feature about The Recycling Bag is that you can fold it and put it in your backpack if you are on your way to campus!

 

What can go in The Recycling Bag

You can place any accepted cardboard, paper, plastic, metal and glass inside of The Recycling Bag. Use the Waste Wizard, a web-base search tool to discover what you can recycle quickly and easily.

FAQ

Q: What is The Recycling Bag?

The Recycling Bag is a reusable bag provided to every room in Donovan, Haggin and Johnson Halls. It replaces the traditional in-room recycling bin and gives you a convenient way to collect recyclables in your room before taking them to  the recycling compactor.

Q: Why do I not have a recycling bin in my room?

Your residence hall is participating in a pilot program that replaces your in-room recycling bin with a reusable recycling bag. We hope The Recycling Bag is a more convenient option.

Q: Why do only some residence halls have The Recycling Bag?

Starting with a few residence halls allows UK Recycling to evaluate participation, gather student feedback and make improvements before considering expansion to additional halls.

Q: Does the bag replace my trash can?

No. The Recycling Bag is only for recyclable materials.

Q: Do I have to use The Recycling Bag?

While participation is voluntary, we encourage everyone to recycle. Every bottle, can & piece of paper recycled helps reduce waste sent to the landfill.

Q: Where do I empty The Recycling Bag?

Empty your bag in your residence hall’s recycling compactor located outside of Haggin Hall on Hilltop Ave.

Q: What happens if I lose The Recycling Bag?

Contact your Resident Advisor or fill out a FIX-IT request.

Q: What if The Recycling Bag gets dirty?

Simply wipe it out or rinse it with mild soap and water. Allow it to dry before using it again.

Q: What happens if The Recycling Bag is missing at the end of the school year?

A fee will be applied to the room for the missing bag, the same as if a bin is missing.

Q: Why is the university trying this program?

At UK, it is our goal to become a zero-waste campus and reduce waste going to the landfill. This pilot is designed to make recycling easier and more convenient for students by providing a reusable bag that can be folded and stored in a backpack after it's emptied. Additionally, the pilot aims to encourage more participation and help the university improve recycling services in residence halls.

If you have any questions or feedback about The Recycling Bag pilot program, please e-mail us so we can address any concerns. Your experience and feedback will improve recycling for future wildcats living in the residence halls.