Recycling at Vanderbilt University

Recycling containers in Buttrick Hall
photo by Bob Wheaton

In 1990, Vanderbilt University began actively working on a program to reduce waste for the University community. Formally established in 1992, the Vanderbilt University's recycling program has evolved and continues to grow through the active involvement and participation of its student body, staff and faculty.

The program was initially under the auspices of the Resource Conservation Advisory Committee, a forum for student leaders and Vanderbilt faculty and staff. In 2002 the Vanderbilt Recycles committee was established as a student-led and managed organization. In 2004 the organization was renamed as Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling (SPEAR). SPEAR has partnered with both the Student Government Association (SGA) and the InterResidence Hall Association's (INTERHALL) environmental committees to actively promote existing environmental awareness programs and to develop and implement new initiatives.

In addition to the student-lead programs, the Department of Plant Operations, which is operationally responsible for the University's Recycling Program, provides building recycling services and manages a community recycling initiative at the end of the academic year during student move-out.

Recycling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What We Recycle

Recycling Bin Locations

1. Where do I recycle if I live in residential housing?

2. Where do I recycle in a Vanderbilt administrative or academic building?

3. If I am in a University-owned building, what do I do if I want to get recycling started in my building, area or department?

4. What do I do if I work for the University, but the building in which I work is outside of the main university campus?

5. What happens to my recycling at VU?

6. How do I get to the Peabody Recycling Center on Appleton Drive?

7. What do I do when my recycling is overflowing in an academic/administrative building?

8. Is my shredding being recycled?

9. Why should I recycle?

10. What is currently being recycled at Vanderbilt University?

11. What do I do with my University Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) that I'm using in my desk lamp?

12. What do I do if my CFL breaks?

13. Where and when can I recycle cardboard?

14. Where can I recycle glass?

15. What do I do if I have a large amount of recycling?

16. Where can I recycle small batteries at Vanderbilt?

1. Where do I recycle if I live in residential housing?
A: Residential housing recycling stations are located next to the solid waste containers (dumpsters) closest to your building. Each station has five containers for recycling of plastic, aluminum, paper and cardboard. In some residential halls the recycling stations are in the main floor entrance of the building. Visit the Residential Halls Recycling Locations page. Recycled material is picked up from these locations and delivered to the university recycling center by various student volunteer organizations. Please see the Student Residential Recycling guide.

Each residential room is eligible to have one recycling container.  If you do not have a recycling container and would like one, please contact your Area Maintenance Supervisor.

2. Where do I recycle in a Vanderbilt University Central administrative or academic building?
A: Buildings that are actively participating in the recycling program have recycling containers at various central locations. Most common locations are vending machine areas, hallways and copier rooms.

3. If I am in a University-owned building, what do I do if I want to get recycling started in my building, area or department?
A: If it is a University Central campus building, contact Vanderbilt's Recycling Coordinator in Plant Operations at 343-2784 (34 EARTH).  If you are in VUMC, VCH, VSN, Stallworth, or other medical buildings, please see VUMC Recycling Program for more information. The VU Med Center has its own, separate recycling program.

4. What do I do if I work for the University, but the building in which I work is outside of the main university campus?
A: A number of Vanderbilt University organizations offices are located in buildings managed by Vanderbilt University Real Estate operations (VURE). Recycling services are coming to these buildings in 2008! However, VURE does not manage 2525 West End, Lowes Vanderbilt Plaza or Medical Center facilities on West End Avenue. For recycling suggestions in those buildings, please contact the Vanderbilt Recycling Coordinator at 34-EARTH.

5. What happens to my recycling at VU?
A: The recycling is picked up from your building or the residential halls outdoor recycling locations, and taken to the recycling center on campus, currently located on Peabody campus, on Appleton Drive.  The recycling center consists of several containers (dumpsters) for separated recycled material. From this location the recycling is picked up by Allied Waste and Smurfit-Stone and it is transported to the Smurfit-Stone recycling center in Nashville. The returns earned from this venture go back into paying for the recycling program.

6. How do I get to the Peabody Recycling Center on Appleton Drive?

 A: From 21st Avenue South, take Edgehill Avenue east.  Pass both legs of Magnolia Circle, then turn right onto Appleton Drive, just before the VU Child Care center.  (If you've reached 18th Avenue South, you've gone too far.)  The recycling center is on Appleton just behind the new Commons Center.  It is open for everyone in the VU community (Students and Employees) to use at all times.  A map to the Peabody Recycling Center on Appleton Drive is provided here.

You can also access an interactive map of Vanderbilt's campus to locate the Peabody Recycling Center.

7. What do I do when my recycling is overflowing in an academic/administrative building?
A: Buildings that are participating in the recycling program are scheduled for pick-up on a cyclic basis, based on the volume of recyclables they produce. Your building may already be scheduled for pick up on that day. If it is not, please call 34-EARTH and ask if your building is scheduled for recycling soon. You may ask for an extra pick up.

8. Is my shredding being recycled?
A: If you have shredding from your own shredder in your office, it will be recycled only when placed inside one of the designated paper recycling containers located in your building. If you use Shred-It, they recycle the shredded paper.

9. Why should I recycle?
A: Fiscally, it costs the University more money to dispose of garbage/ton than it does recycling/ton. Also, we are paid for our recyclable goods. Civically, it is a responsible way to keep the landfill in our area from filling up. Environmentally, it is an easy way to help protect the finite resources of our planet. Thanks for your efforts!

10. What is currently being recycled at Vanderbilt University?
A: See the What We Recycle list below for details on what is acceptable and non acceptable under each main recyclable item: paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum.

11. What do I do with my University Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) that I'm using in my desk lamp?

A: CFL's are a great energy saver, with one bulb lasting up to 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb!  Because CFL's contain mercury, they are hazardous when broken.  Therefore, it is especially important to not throw them away when they are at the end of their lifetime.  Take them to 125 Bryan Building and they will be recycled for you.  Due to concerns regarding breakage, do not send them in campus mail!  Please hand deliver.  Place the CFL in a sealed plastic bag or a Ziploc-type baggie prior to coming to the Bryan Building, in the event that the bulb is dropped during delivery.  

12. What do I do if my CFL breaks? A: The best thing to do if you break a CFL is to clean up the residue with a damp cloth or paper towel, place the debris and cloth/towel in a sealed plastic bag and then wash your hands.  Learn more about CFL clean-up from the Energy Star web page.

13. Where and when can I recycle cardboard?
A: Plant Operations is looking at ways to make cardboard recycling more comprehensive on campus with staffing and logistical constraints. Currently, we can offer the following: If you have saved a significant amount of cardboard, please call Services and Information Systems (SIS) at 343-9675 to submit a work order to have your cardboard removed and recycled. If you are a student and live in VU residence halls, the SPEAR Cardboard Crew will assist with Cardboard recycling during move-in and move-out.  Finally, all VU students and employees are welcomed and encouraged to use the cardboard compacting dumpster at the Peabody Recycling Center at any time.  Just toss in your flattened cardboard, and our staff will compact it for you throughout the day.

14. Where can I recycle glass?
A: Vanderbilt is not able to offer glass recycling at this time.  The City of Nashville does offer glass recycling.  For locations of city-owned drop-off centers that accept glass for recycling, click here.

15. What do I do if I have a large amount of recycling?
A:  If you have a large one-time generation of recyclable material (i.e. someone cleans out of their files, has years of old journals to get rid of, has several boxes of outdated brochures, etc.), your department  should "Create a Work Order Request" through the Plant Operations web site.  Just click on the yellow box in the upper right corner!  Or you can call 4-WORK (4-9675).   Be sure to include your center and account number.

Our recycling workers are on a route.  A little extra recycling will be picked up as a courtesy on our regular routes and shouldn't throw the workers off schedule.  Thank you for submitting a Work Order Request for large amounts of recyclables.

16. Where can I recycle small batteries at Vanderbilt?
A: Currently, you can take your small batteries to either 125 Bryan Building at the Main Campus or to 117 Peabody Maintenance.  This would include normal alkaline batteries such as AA, AAA, C,D, etc. as well as cell phone, laptop, pager, and radio batteries.  Large batteries from university-owned equipment (towmotors, vehicles, etc.) are considered regulated waste and should be collected by submitting a Waste Collection Form through Vanderbilt's normal waste collection process.  Please do not bring these to Bryan Building or Peabody Maintenance.

Vanderbilt Medical Center is working towards a small battery recycling program, but does not have that option at this time.

Recycling Bin Locations

MAIN CAMPUS

FRATERNITIES

PEABODY CAMPUS

What We Recycle

Vanderbilt accepts four major items through the main campus recycling program: paper, cardboard*, plastic and aluminum. See guide below for a description of acceptable and non acceptable items.

*Cardboard is currently only being collected by student volunteers for the residential areas.  A cardboard collection system for the rest of main campus is in the planning stages.  Any VU student or employee is welcome to use the Peabody Recycling Center to recycle their own area's cardboard.

**Phone books are recycled annually in the spring during the phone book/directory/book drive.  Watch this website for specific dates!

For more information, please contact Vanderbilt's Recycling Coordinator at 34-EARTH.