Recycling
Georgia State University supports single-stream recycling, which means that paper, cardboard, metal and plastic products can be mixed together into any recycling bin on all campuses.
The recycling crew is working hard to increase the diversion rate for GA State University. We are proud to announce that 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 GA 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 the landfill. 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 is 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 University changed over the past 5 years (regarding amount collected)?
What can students, faculty and staff do to ensure our recycling ends up in the right place?
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
Paper
- Newspaper
- Magazines and catalogs
- Printer and copy paper
- Notebook paper
- Envelopes and folders
- Paper bags
- Paperback books
- Post-It notes
- Shredded paper (bagged and tied off)
- Staples and paperclips
Cardboard
- Carboard boxes (broken down)
- Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
- Boxboard and paperboard
- Cereal boxes
- Pasta boxes
- Shoe boxes
- Tissue boxes
Metal
- Aluminum foil and bakeware
- Aluminum cans
- Soda cans
- Energy drink cans
- Beer cans
- Steel cans
- Soup cans
- Canned vegetable cans
- Tuna fish cans
Plastic
- Bottle caps (twisted onto bottle)
- #1-5 plastic bottles, cups and containers
- Shampoo bottles
- Milk jugs
- Soft drink bottles
- Yogurt cups
Items Not Accepted
- Plastic bindings and clips
- Food-soiled paper
- Napkins and paper towels
- Paper plates and cups
- Tissues
- Chinese takeout containers
- Cartons
- Juice cartons
- Milk cartons
- Ice cream cartons
- Food-soiled cardboard
- Pizza boxes
- Takeout containers
- Pots, pans and utensils
- Aerosol cans
- Hairspray cans
- Whipped cream cans
- Air freshener cans
- #6 Styrofoam products
- #6 “Clamshell” and brittle plastic packaging
- Salad bar containers
- Light bulb and electronics packaging
- Produce containers
- #7 “Miscellaneous” and rigid plastics
- CD and DVD cases
- Buckets
- Laundry baskets
- #2/#4 Plastic bags and film
- Grocery bags
- Bread bags
- Sandwich bags
- Stretch wrap
- Biodegradable plastics
Sustainability Fee
In 2013, an overwhelming majority of Georgia State students voted to allocate three dollars per semester towards promoting sustainability initiatives on campus as part of their existing mandatory student fees. Recently this fee was increased to five dollars. Every August and September, chartered student organizations and departments on the downtown campus have the opportunity to submit funding proposals to the Sustainability Fee Committee which is comprised of students, faculty and staff.
Sustainability Fee Fund Awarded Projects Fiscal Year 2020
Panther Pride Initiative
The Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition
Sustainability Fellowship Program
Library Recycling Initiative
Less Paper-More Marching
Panther Bikes
Leafy Green Machine-GSU City Grown
Panther Food Recovery Network
Solar Table for the Student Recreation Center
Student Environmental Team
Bike Rental Program
Water Bottle Refill Station in Dahlberg Hall
Earth Week Festival
Sustainability Speaker Series
America Recycles Week: Mug Shot Campaign
Smart Baler Retrofit and Scale
Move-in and Move-out Recycling Banners
Sustainability Initiatives Intern Program
Food
Sustainability in Dining
Sustainability in Dining
This is a shot taken by one of our student interns from inside PantherDining’s Leafy Green Machine!
Click here to check out what PantherDining is doing for sustainability.
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. GSU 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, 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 University. Sustainable features of the lodge include:
- High-efficiency water fixtures
- Reduction of water use by 35%
- 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
To find out more about the Lodge and how to reserve the space for events, click here.
Student Recreation Center: The GSU Student Recreation Center opened in August of 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 globes (out of four), due to the university’s commitment to green building and sustainable development. This building also houses GSU’s Touch the Earth program where campus users can rent bicycles and outdoor gear for little to no cost.
College of Law: The new College of Law facility was opened in 2015 and is expected to become LEED Silver Certified in 2016. This state-of-the-art facility features a beautiful green roof terrace, wood paneling and loads of natural light.
Building Energy Consumption
Currently, GSU has a building automation system (BAS) that enables us to maintain a comfortable working environment. This system allows us to set occupancy schedules, run chiller plants at a lower cost per ton of cooling and more.
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 recently launched a “Shut the Shash” campaign in our laboratory spaces during breaks.
Green Office Certification
The Office of 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 that your team members can reduce, reuse, recycle, and implement green practices in your space. While it may sound intimidating, we are here for every step of the certification and will guide you in each part!
If you want to learn more about obtaining a Green Office certification, fill out the form below.