Accepted/Not Accepted Items
Help us keep the recycling stream clean. Do not recycle glass, #6 and #7 plastics, Styrofoam, plastic bags and film, cartons, packets and wrappers, food and liquid or food-soiled materials in any single stream recycling bin on campus. These items are considered to be contaminants that degrade the value of the recyclables that have been sorted into the bins correctly.
Please email recycle@gsu.edu with questions about specific items not listed.
Accepted Items
Cardboard
- Box board and paper board
- Cereal boxes
- Pasta boxes
- Shoe boxes
- Tissue boxes
- Cardboard boxes (broken down)
- Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
Metal
- Aluminum foil and bake ware
- Aluminum cans
- Beer cans
- Energy drink cans
- Soda cans
- Steel cans
- Canned vegetable cans
- Soup cans
- Tuna fish cans
Paper
- Envelopes and folders
- Magazines and catalogs
- Newspaper
- Notebook paper
- Paper bags
- Paperback books
- Post-It notes
- Printer and copy paper
- Shredded paper (bagged and tied off)
- Staples and paperclips
Plastic
- #1-5 plastic bottles, cups and containers
- Shampoo bottles
- Milk jugs
- Soft drink bottles
- Yogurt cups
- Bottle caps (twisted onto bottle)
Items Not Accepted
- #2/4 Plastic bags and film
- Bread bags
- Grocery bags
- Sandwich bags
- Stretch wrap
- #6 Clam shell and brittle plastic packaging
- Light bulb and electronics packaging
- Produce containers
- Salad bar containers
- #6 Styrofoam products
- #7 Miscellaneous and rigid plastics
- Buckets
- CD and DVD cases
- Laundry baskets
- Aerosol cans
- Air freshener cans
- Hairspray cans
- Whipped cream cans
- Biodegradable plastics
- Cartons
- Juice cartons
- Milk cartons
- Ice cream cartons
- Food-soiled cardboard
- Pizza boxes
- Takeout containers
- Food-soiled paper
- Chinese takeout containers
- Napkins and paper towels
- Paper plates and cups
- Tissues
- Plastic bindings and clips
- Pots, pans and utensils
Buildings
Green Certified Buildings
In 2015, the Georgia Legislature mandated that state institutions could no longer utilize state funding to pursue LEED certification for building projects. Georgia State continues to incorporate sustainability in all new construction projects on campus by following the Georgia Peach Point Standards. Currently, we have three green-certified buildings on campus — Indian Creek Lodge, the Student Recreation Center and the College of Law.
Indian Creek Lodge
The lodge serves as a premier venue for meetings, conferences, retreats and social events and was the first LEED-certified building at Georgia State. Sustainable features of the lodge include:
- High-efficiency water fixtures
- Preservation of more than 77% of the LEED project boundary for open space
- Purchasing of renewable energy certificates that offset 100% of the building’s electricity use
- Reduction of water use by 35%
To find out more about Indian Creek Lodge and how to reserve space for events, click here.
Student Recreation Center
The Student Recreation Center opened in 2001 and was recognized by the National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association as an Outstanding Sports Facility. In 2012, the building became Green Globes certified, earning three (out of four) globes, due to the university’s commitment to green building and sustainable development. The building also houses Georgia State’s Touch the Earth program, where campus users can rent bicycles and outdoor gear for little to no cost.
College of Law
The College of Law opened in 2015. The state-of-the-art facility features a beautiful green roof terrace, wood paneling and an abundance of natural light.
Building Energy Consumption
Georgia State has a building automation system (BAS) that enables us to maintain a comfortable working environment. The system allows us to set occupancy schedules and run chiller plants at a lower cost per ton of cooling.
Energy Conservation Initiatives During Breaks
During winter break, Georgia State shuts down all buildings for three weeks to save energy. All HVAC and lights are turned off during this time with the exception of security lighting and HVAC in university housing. The university has also launched a “Shut the Shash” campaign in our laboratory spaces during breaks.
Food
PantherDining is committed to maintaining sustainable practices throughout its various locations. Patton, Piedmont Central and Piedmont North were awarded the prestigious 3-Star Green Certification from the Green Restaurant Association based on the categories of disposables, energy, food, furnishings and building materials, pollution and chemical reduction, waste and water use.
Click here to find out about all of PantherDining’s sustainability initiatives.
Green Office Certification
Sustainability Initiatives is proud to offer a certification program in which Georgia State offices and departments consult with our team to construct a comprehensive plan for making your office space “green.” The process begins with a waste and energy audit conducted by our team, in which we observe the natural usage habits of the office. From this, we find ways your team members can reduce, reuse, recycle and implement green practices in your space. While it may sound intimidating, we’re here for every step of the certification and will guide you in each part.
Complete the form below to learn more about obtaining a Green Office certification.
Recycling
Georgia State supports single-stream recycling, which means that paper, cardboard, metal and plastic products can be mixed together into any recycling bin on all campuses.
Our recycling crew is working hard to increase the diversion rate for Georgia State. We are proud to announce we are now providing recycling services to all campuses. The routes on the Atlanta Campus have been rearranged, so the date of pick-up for some buildings has been changed. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support as we build a stronger program for the Georgia State community.
An important note on Georgia State recycling after China’s ban on foreign waste (as of July 6, 2018):
This past January, China officially implemented a ban on imports of various waste materials originating from countries around the world including the United States. China’s ban has raised concerns from citizens in cities across the country about whether their recycling will actually be recycled or end up in landfills. In order to address this concern, Georgia State’s Sustainability Initiatives office reached out to Karen Wilson, senior account manager at Caraustar, Georgia State’s recycling material recovery facility (MRF) for a Q&A.
Here’s what Karen had to say:
Why did China’s ban on imported waste materials originate and what does it entail?
Since the implementation of China’s ban on imported plastic waste and other materials, what are your thoughts on if or how China’s plastic waste ban will affect the recycling industry (regarding price and refuse)?
Due to what some are calling the “recycling crisis,” some recycling haulers are sending recycling refuse to landfills. Is this the case with Caraustar?
Given your work in the recycling industry, has the recycling industry experienced changes? If so, how has recycling changed over the past 10 years (regarding the amount collected and the price of the commodity)?
How has recycling at Georgia State changed over the past 5 years (regarding the amount collected)?
What can students, faculty and staff do to ensure our recycling ends up in the right place?
Sustainability Fee
In 2013, an overwhelming majority of Georgia State students voted to allocate $3 per semester toward promoting sustainability initiatives on campus as part of their existing mandatory student fees. Recently this fee was increased to $5 per semester. Every year, chartered student organizations and departments on the Atlanta Campus have the opportunity to submit funding proposals to the Sustainability Fee Committee, which is comprised of students, faculty and staff.