Skip to main content
Student homeSustainability home
Recycling
Message centerMy favorites
Community waste stations

Across campus, community waste stations help individuals dispose of their personal trash. Each community waste station consists of a set of labeled bins to help separate trash items into their respective waste streams.

Learn More

Glass, Plastic, Aluminum

Recycle your plastic, glass, and aluminum across campus!

A quick guide to what can and can’t be recycled on campus! Generally, plastic, aluminum, and glass containers can be recycled. Conversely, plastic bags and styrofoam can't be recycled on campus - but may be recycled at an alternate location; paper cups tend to be waxy inside and thus cannot be recycled; and cartons, plastic straws and utensils, and chip bags are also not recyclable on campus.

Look for these containers across campus. In residence halls, recycle your bottles and cans in the bins or chutes.

A banner of the various recycling bins on campus. From left to right: the in-wall embedded recycling chutes in residence halls, a silver color with handle and white text of the word ‘RECYCLE’; a small blue bin with the tri-arrow recycle symbol in white on the front, found in dorm rooms; a black metal garbage can, with a gold banner around it near the top featuring red text that reads ‘BOTTLES & CANS’; across the center and back of the image is a series of three recycling bins, embedded into a light brown wooden structure, each a darker brown, the first features a white rounded top and reads ‘TRASH’ in white text, in the center the bin features an opening near the top shown in white and ‘PAPER’ written below in white text, and the final one has two round holes near the top, once again shown in white with the text ‘BOTTLES & CANS’ written underneath in white.

Paper
All types of paper, such as newsprint, white, color, stapled, crumpled, written on, and sticky notes can go into the bin.

In residence halls, paper recycling bins can be found in the lobby of each building.

Across campus, paper recycling bins are located inside all buildings.
On the left side of the image is a collection of paper recyclables, from left to right: a newspaper, three sheets of paper in yellow, and a paper bag. On the right side of the image are three paper recycling bins, from left to right: a white square bin with the tri-arrow recycling symbol on the front in black, a taller off-white square bin, the lid on top has a narrow slit and the edge reads ‘PAPER’ in green text. Finally there is a thin blue bin, with the tri-arrow recycling symbol on the front in white, and a narrow diagonal opening on the top.

Cardboard

In the residence halls, take cardboard to the large bin behind your building.

For classroom buildings, cardboard recycling is located near the back of the building.

Tape and shipping labels can be left on the boxes.
On the left side of the image is a large blue dumpster, there is a narrow slit on the right side, and underneath it reads ‘CARDBOARD’ in white text, next to that near the center of the image are two open cardboard boxes.

Electronics
A wooden container that is more tall than wide. The top and borders are a light brown, while the center of the side facing the viewer is a darker brown. Near the top is a small white square, symbolizing an opening. Beneath it in white text reads ‘INKJET CARTRIDGES’. Below that is a narrow, long white rectangle, which beneath in white text reads ‘CELL PHONES’. Near the bottom is a white circle, reading ‘BATTERIES’ below it in white text.
Campus items (computers, monitors, printers, phones, etc) can be surplused through the FSU Waste Management electronics recycling program.

Small, personal items (ink cartridges, batteries, and cell phones) can be placed in the e-waste bin located outside of the FSU Card Center.

Looking for a way to recycle other, larger personal items such as laptops, TVs, gaming systems, and more? Figure out the best recycling location in the area by visiting Earth 911.

Campus Dining

Scroll through the carousel of images below to see what’s recyclable from your favorite campus eatery


Generally, most of your paper bags should be recyclable, but a good rule of thumb is that wax-lined or waxy items cannot be recycled. The same is true of aluminum lining, which you might find in Chick-Fil-A containers.

Straws are also mostly unrecyclable. If you’re looking to recycle your plastic bags, such as from the Subway Cafe, you’ll need to head to locations like the local Publix that accepts plastic bag recycling, as it can’t be processed on campus.

Otherwise, most other on-campus eatery containers should be recyclable at various recycling stations across campus! Containers that have food or grease residue should not be recycled! They can contaminate the recycling bin.

Clothing
Do you have professional clothing that you never wear? Donate it to FSU’s Career Center, Suite 2100.

Examples of professional clothing students can donate include: men and women’s business suits, blazers, professional shoes, belts, and more!

You can get further information on acceptable donations and how to donate by checking out their website.

All other clothing can be donated at your local Goodwill, through Big Brothers, Big Sisters Big Bend Tallahassee donation bins located around the area, or any number of other programs.

Examples of professional clothing students can donate include: business suits, blazers, dress shirts, blouses, professional slacks, skirts, ties, belts, professional shoes.