Recycling & Solid Waste Diversion
300,000+ pounds of materials recycled during the 2016/17 academic year.
Recycling bins are placed throughout campus. 100 new bins were added throughout 2017 and 2018.
All trash, recycling and composting is managed by Custodial Services within Physical Plant.
All items placed in trash cans at Shenandoah University go to a landfill. Currently about 30% of the solid waste stream is recycled or composted. Shenandoah has a number of initiatives to help ensure recyclables and compostables are kept out of the landfill.
Mind the Bin
This is a campaign to put waste items in the correct bin so only trash, not recyclables or compostables, goes to the landfill. Bins for compost, recycling and trash are color-coded, labeled and are conveniently located next to each other in a single ‘Mind the Bin’ station. The Shenandoah University Department of Athletics partnered with Custodial Services and the Office of Sustainability to provide ‘Mind the Bin’ stations at some athletic events and select campus locations.
Toner Recycling Bins
Greenworks in partnership with the Sustainability Committee is now running a Toner Cartridge recycling program. We have placed bins around campus for the entire Shenandoah University community to take advantage of. Currently, the bins can be found in the following locations:
- Institutional Computing in Howe Hall
- Halpin Harrison Hall first floor copy/mailroom
- Hornet Central in the Wilkins Administration Building
- Smith Library Circulation Desk
- Brandt Student Center Information Services Desk
Once the bins are full please email Greenworks at gogreen@su.edu and we will come pick up the used toner cartridges. If you would like to request a new location for a toner recycling bin please contact the Sustainability team at gogreen@su.edu.
Shredding Day
Every year, the several administrative departments sponsor a Shredding Day, typically in the summer, for offices and departments on campus to purge paper records no longer needed. All of this paper is shredded and then recycled.
Copy / Printing Paper
Shenandoah’s Bulk Mail department purchases printing and copying paper with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content. This helps close the loop on the recycling process.