Frequently Asked Questions about Recycling, Composting, and Waste

Is bubble wrap recyclable?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:05:00 PST

How to Recycle your old Bubble Wrap

What can I do with my old cassettes?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:07:00 PST

Learn ways on how to reuse your cassettes and where to recycle them.

Are Overhead Transparencies Recyclable?

recycle@scu.edu (Recycle Intern) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:09:00 PST

Overhead transparencies cannot be recycled on campus. They require a different process of recycling since the plastic has special coatings on it that allow the ink and toner to adhere to the surface (http://www-bdnew.fnal.gov/esh/newsletter/transparency_recycling.html).

Even though they can't be recycled in your regular bin, there are still many options of disposal for you to choose from. RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) accepts these items and they can be dropped off at either their San Jose or Sunnyvale locations. They will donate these items for teachers and students to use. For more information on how to donate to RAFT, click on this link: http://www.raft.net/material-guidelines. You can also send them to 3M’s recycling program in Pennsylvania. To learn where to send them, click on this link: http://web.mit.edu/workinggreen/faq.html#13.

How Do I Recycle My Old Mattresses?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:15:00 PST

Learn where you can donate and recycle old mattresses.

Can Plastic Bags Be Recycled On Campus?

sustainability@scu.edu (Office of Sustainability ) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:44:00 PST

Plastic bags cannot be recycled on the SCU campus, but they can be recycled if you dispose of them in your off-campus homes.

Paper vs Plastic: Can Laminated Paper Be Recycled?

recycling@scu.edu (Recylcing Intern) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 PST

Laminated Paper cannot be recycled due to differences in the recycling process.

Can you compost Paper Towels? Yes!

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:27:00 PST

Paper towels (and any other paper products that DO NOT have plastic linings, pathogens, or bodily fluids)can be composted along with all other food scraps and compostable items.

We have several vinyl banners that we are hoping can be recycled. Do you have any suggestions on if this can be done and how?

sustainability@scu.edu (Office of Sustainability) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:16:00 PST

Reusing/repurposing is better than recycling, since it takes less energy.

I have a bunch of books I don't need... what should I do?

sustainability@scu.edu (Office of Sustainability) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:23:00 PST

You can donate or recycle them. Please don't put them in the blue paper recycling bags, books are heavy and rip the bags.

Why do we have compost containers in some buildings on campus and not on others?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:46:00 PST

The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Department have been collaborating on a university-wide Recycling System Upgrade for all SCU buildings. The program is intended to facilitate recycling and composting, increase waste diversion on campus, and standardize the appearance of our bins (no more old faded labels!). The order in which the buildings are upgraded depends on a variety of factors including bin availability, custodial service training, and communication with building administrators.

Morning after. What do I do with all these solo cups, bottles, and cans around my house?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:57:00 PST

No worries, you can both drink responsibly as well as clean up responsibly. We've provided some tips for reusable cups and wine cork recycling.

I'm an off-campus student. What are the rules for Santa Clara's curbside recycling program?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:05:00 PST

Luckily, the rules for off-campus recycling are relatively similar to the ones on-campus; both programs are single-stream, meaning you don't have to sort out all the different types of recyclables.

How do I recycle long fluorescent lighting tubes?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:37:00 PST

Thanks for recycling these! Many places will accept long fluorescent tubes to recycle.

I don't live on campus so I was wondering if there's somewhere I can take empty ink cartridges, batteries, and old cell phones to be recycled?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:15:00 PST

We provide suggestions of places to take your items.

What exactly is 'recycled water'? Doesn't it still contain chemicals and bacteria that would be harmful to us?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:43:00 PST

Recycling water is a great method for managing such a scarce resource more efficiently. Eighty-five percent of our campus is irrigated with recycled water, and we also use this water for the toilets of the Learning Commons. Recycled or "reclaimed" water is water that has already been used by residences and businesses; however, this water undergoes an intensive treatment before it is deemed safe to reuse.

I recently received a promotion and have old business cards that I can no longer hand out. Are there good ways to reuse these, or should I just send them to the recycling bin?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:06:00 PST

Congratulations! Fortunately, being made of paper, business cards are among those items that can be chucked into the recycling bin. However, if you lean towards the creative side, there are a number of ways in which you can reuse these cards.

I'm confused about our new Starbucks cups. Are they compostable?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:27:00 PST

if you look on the slightly different Starbucks cup we have, it says: "This cup is compostable where commercial composting programs exist." Here is where the answer gets tricky.

What are 'green' dry cleaners, and where can I find them in this area?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:10:00 PST

Even though it can be a huge relief to pick up your dry-cleaning and see that stain has magically disappeared, the chemicals used at standard dry-cleaners can be toxic both to the workers who clean your clothes and to yourself. Most dry cleaners use a chemical called perchloroethylene, a known carcinogenic according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Fortunately, there is a burgeoning population of environmentally friendly dry-cleaners that have found alternatives to this chemical. One company, Green Earth Cleaning, uses a liquid silicone solution. This solution is no more expensive than standard dry-cleaning, it doesn't jeopardize the health of the employees, and doesn't end up as toxic waste after it is used. So, the next time you dig out your nice suit crumpled in the bottom of your closet and need to get it dry-cleaned for your aunt's cousin's wedding in two weeks, keep an eye out for your sustainable alternatives!

Listed below are some local Green Earth Cleaning affiliates, but there are plenty of other eco-friendly dry cleaners in our area:

A French Cleaners
5205 Prospect Rd. Suite 150
San Jose, CA 95129
408-777-8400

Dry Clean 4 U
3787 Stevens Creek Blvd., Ste. 101
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408-985-5270

DryClean A.B.C.
641 South Bernardo Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408-739-8348

At SCU, where do we send our ink cartridges to be recycled?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:58:00 PST

There are three easy options to recycle empty ink cartridges.

I have a stack of carbonless copy forms that I can't use. Is it harmful to recycle this kind of paper?

recycling@scu.edu (Recycling Intern) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:55:00 PST

Quick answer: Nope, carbonless paper can be safely recycled like most other paper.

What is carbonless paper?

Carbonless paper is typically used when filling out forms. It consists of sheets of paper (usually of different colors) that are coated with micro-encapsulated dye or ink and/or reactive clay. Pressure applied to the top sheet breaks tiny micro-capsules on the backside of the paper, which then react with the clay on the top the next sheet to form a permanent mark. This is repeated for however many sheets are in the stack, often resulting in stronger markings near the top sheet and fainter markings near the bottom sheet. Carbonless paper can be used for longhand as well as mechanical writing, such as typewriters.

Carbonless paper should not be confused with carbon paper, a black inky sheet placed between two sheets of paper to make a pressure copy. Carbon paper cannot be recycled.