Vanderbilt received a Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for The Commons as one of 14 award winners recognized statewide for their positive impact on the state’s natural resources.
Black + Gold = Green
When it comes to sustainability, Vanderbilt is rewriting the equation. Read the full story in the Vanderbilt View.
Electronics Recycling Event a Huge Success
The Vanderbilt-sponsored Electronics Recycling Event filled 25 tractor trailers with electronics for recycling, with more than 1,000 people dropping off items during the community recycling event.
Vanderbilt Takes First Steps at "Greening" Commencement
Vanderbilt evaluated Commencement and related activities to see where "greener" practices could be adopted.
Student Recycling Guide
What can be recycled on campus??
| MIXED PAPER | RECYCLE - White and colored paper, newspaper, magazines, paperboard (cereal boxes and other thin, non-corrugated cardboard), envelopes (window envelopes, paper clips, and staples are all OK). DO NOT RECYCLE WITH PAPER - Anything contaminated with food, corrugated cardboard (packing boxes), wax-coated papers (e.g. some instant dinner boxes, milk cartons). |
| ALUMINUM & TIN | RECYCLE - Rinsed soup cans, soda cans, aluminum foil. Empty and rinse all cans before recycling them so that we don't get pests. DO NOT RECYCLE - Aluminum or tin that is contaminated with food. |
| PLASTIC | RECYCLE - All #1 or #2 plastics (the # is usually on the bottom of containers). This includes most soda bottles, plastic grocery bags, milk jugs, and shampoo bottles, etc. DO NOT RECYCLE - Any #3, #4, #5, #6 plastics. Cup lids and solo cups are usually not recyclable. |
| PRINTER CARTRIDGES | Free ink cartridge recycling at VU! To find out how, click here. |
| CARDBOARD | RECYCLE - Any corrugated cardboard (this is the thick cardboard made of two flat layers and a sandwiched spacing layer, e.g. packing boxes). DO NOT RECYCLE - Any cardboard that has been contaminated with food (e.g. pizza boxes). Any other corrugated item, like corrugated plastic. |
| NOT ACCEPTED | Glass, styrofoam, #3 - #7 plastics, food-contaminated items, garbage. |
REMEMBER: Contaminating a bin renders its contents unrecyclable. Please sort all items into their proper bins, and if you are unsure whether an item is recyclable, throw it in a trash bin and ask us for guidance at recycle@vanderbilt.edu.
GLASS RECYCLING is not available on campus. However, you may recycle your glass items at Hillsboro High School.
Where are the recycling bins located?
Recycling bins are located outside of all residence halls and inside of academic, administrative, and student life buildings.
Residence halls with recycling next to trash dumpsters outside:
- Kissam Quad
- Vanderbilt/Barnard Halls
- Tolman, Cole and McGill Halls (West Side Row)
- McTyeire Hall
- Mayfields/Highland Quad
- Gilette and Murray Halls (Peabody Campus)
Residence halls with recycling in main lobby:
- Towers East
- Towers West
Residence halls with recycling outside main dorm entrance:
- Morgan
- Lewis
Smaller recycling bins are located inside all classroom buildings, Sarratt Student Center, the Student Life Center, campus libraries, Kirkland Hall, the Student Recreation Center, and many other campus buildings. Remember to look for a recycling bin wherever you are before throwing a recyclable away!
How do I request a recycling bin for my room?
Students that wish to have a recycling bin in their room may request one from their Area Maintenence Supervisor (Office of Housing and Residential Education).
Why is it important to recycle?
- The average American uses 650 lbs. of paper per year.
- 100 million tons of wood could be saved each year if all that paper was actually recycled!
- 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
- The 36 billion aluminum cans landfilled last year had a scrap value of more than $600 million. (Some day we'll be mining our landfills for the resources we've buried.)
- One recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
- If every American household recycled just one out of every ten plastic bottles they used, we would keep 200 million pounds of the plastic out of landfills every year.
- Americans go through 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
- One recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
Who picks up the recycling?
Recycling pick-up in the dorms is done by student volunteer groups (Wilskills, IFC, and SPEAR), and pick-ups by the student groups are supported through VU Plant Operations by four federal work-study positions.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about recycling, feel free to e-mail recycle@vanderbilt.edu.
You may also find more information at the SPEAR website.
How to Get More Involved!
If you are interested in becoming more involved with recycling, join SPEAR: Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling!!
Aside from recycling maintenance and pickup, SPEAR works to reduce Vanderbilt's environmental impact, to raise awareness on campus of environmental issues such as resource use and energy efficiency, and to integrate sustainable practices into the habits and infrastructure of the university community.
SPEAR meetings are Monday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in Sarratt 112.
If you are interested in helping with recycling pickup, e-mail spear@vanderbilt.edu.
