All in the Hall Recycling Program

UNL practices multi-stream recycling, meaning there are multiple recycling streams: Cardboard, Paper, Aluminum Cans, and Plastic Bottles and Containers. It is necessary for recyclable materials to be separated appropriately, because the different material types are transported separately to avoid contamination. This ensures that each commodity stays as clean as possible during the transport process, making it easier for the material recovery facility (recycling processing center) to accept and process the materials. Recyclables with high rates of contamination from food or other non-recyclable items cannot be recycled and are typically sent to the landfill. Learn more about how to correctly sort your recyclables by reviewing the UNL Recycling Guide. 

• Books: Paperback books can be recycled with office paper in the Paper recycling stream. If you have a large quantity of hardcover books to be recycled, please email sustainability@unl.edu to coordinate a special pickup. Consider donating books to give them a second life rather than disposing of them. 
• Coffee cups: Unfortunately, paper coffee cups are not recyclable.  These cups contain an internal plastic or wax coating to provide insulation and waterproofing, making them unrecyclable. Please dispose of your cup in the trash, or better yet, bring a reusable mug to be filled up at your favorite shop! Most coffee shops on campus and around Lincoln offer a cup discount - save money and make a difference by prioritizing reusables. 
• Glass: Glass is not currently collected for recycling at UNL. The City of Lincoln accepts clean and dry glass bottles and jars at Consumer Recyclables Collection Sites.  
• Air pockets, plastic bags, and other plastic films: Air pockets, bubble wrap, and plastic grocery bags are considered plastic films. Plastic films are not able to be recycled with UNL’s Plastic Bottles and Containers recycling stream because they create a hazard for recycling processors. These items can cause recycling sorting machines to malfunction, shut down, or even catch fire! On campus, these items should be disposed of in the landfill stream. However, these items can be recycled via drop-off at specialized collection sites at many large grocery and other retail stores. 
• Empty ink and toner cartridges: Empty ink and toner cartridges can be packaged and returned to Mail Services with regular campus mail. The ink and toner cartridges received from campus are shipped to Environmental Office Solutions in Colorado. Cartridges are then sorted based on condition and end-market requirements and ultimately sold to cartridge fillers for refill and reuse.

Yes! Inventory, Surplus, and Asset Management provides the UNL community with direction and guidance regarding fixed asset acquisition, transfer, and reuse of unwanted surplus property on campus. They hold a weekly open house at their East Campus warehouse where campus units can purchase items for departmental use at a reduced cost. Inventory auctions open to the public are also held periodically. Visit the Inventory, Surplus, and Asset Management website to learn more. 

Please flatten corrugated cardboard boxes and place them behind an All in the Hall recycling station or take them directly to the nearest cardboard dumpster located on the building dock or in an outdoor dumpster area. Paperboard items, such as tissue boxes should be placed in the Paper recycling stream. 

Pizza boxes can be recycled, but only if the cardboard is clean, dry, and does not have any solid food residue. Pizza boxes must be free of contaminants including solid food residue (leftover pizza) and other waste items including pizza savers, wax paper, sauce containers, etc. Small grease stains are okay. If your pizza boxes meet these criteria, please flatten your boxes and place them behind an All in the Hall recycling station or take them directly to the nearest cardboard dumpster. If boxes are contaminated and not acceptable for recycling, they should be disposed of with landfill waste. 

Pallets are picked up from most buildings on a weekly basis and can be left near your building's dumpsters. If you have a special request, please contact the Facilities Service Desk at 402-472-1550 or servicedesk@unl.edu. 

Print and Mail Services runs a shredding program on campus to support shredding needs. Visit the Print and Mail Services website for more information. 

Do not dispose of hazardous waste in a landfill container. Environmental Health and Safety provides guidance on safe disposal for all hazardous materials - including batteries, lightbulbs, electronics, and more. Contact EHS at 402-472-4925 or ehs@unl.edu for information. 

Please email the Facilities Service Desk at servicedesk@unl.edu with your request. Requests will be routed to Refuse and Diversion Services to deliver the appropriate containers. Please note that containers will be delivered to the requested building dock and must be returned by the requestor to the dock to be emptied. 

Yes. Custodial Services can provide larger waste receptacles for use during events, especially where food will be served, or larger amounts of waste are expected to be produced. Please contact the Facilities Service Desk at servicedesk@unl.edu to request containers.