Washington University in St. Louis

Initiatives & Outreach

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Energy, Environment & Sustainability / Single Stream Recycling

Single Stream Recycling

Recycling Landfill

In 2010, the Washington University in St. Louis campuses transitioned to a "single stream" recycling process.

This single stream process provides great benefit as WUSTL proceeds to achieve its goals of significantly increasing its waste diversion from landfills as highlighted in the recently released Strategic Plan for Sustainable Operations. This single stream process allows the majority of everyday recyclable materials to be fully commingled in the designated bins throughout campus.

The key information to know regarding our new recycling program follows:

What Can You Recycle In "Single Stream?"

It's not so much what can be recycled, as what can't. If it's not food, ice, liquids, or Styrofoam, it goes!

In the WUSTL single-stream program, you can recycle anything fitting the following descriptions:

  • Paper — Anything that tears, including: white, colored, and coated paper; magazines and catalogs; envelopes (even with plastic windows); phone books, etc.
  • Cardboard — All cardboard, (including greasy food containers and used pizza boxes). Please break down; if it won't fit in a bin, our custodial staff is trained to take it to containers located on university docks.
  • Plastics — #1-7 (Most anything but plastic bags.)
  • Aluminum — Beverage cans
  • Steel — Food and beverage containers
  • Glass

If there's any doubt, toss it in! Our single stream vendor will sort out anything that needs redirecting.

Where Can You Recycle "Single Stream?"

Materials can be recycled throughout campus. Look for bins labeled with the new uniform "Recycling" stickers. Note the other bins are labeled "Landfill" because that's where materials that are not properly sorted will end up for the rest of its product life. The recycling bins can be found in the following locations:

  • In your office or workplace — The blue recycling bins at your desk can now handle all single stream recyclable materials.
  • In campus buildings — Bins are located near dining facilities, entryways, stairways and common areas, and/or pool classrooms.
  • Outside on campus — Bins are located in high traffic areas throughout the campus grounds.

What Happens To The Single Stream Recycled Materials?

The WUSTL single stream process can be described in the following four simple steps:

  • Step 1 — WUSTL community places the materials in the appropriate recycling bins.
  • Step 2 — WUSTL's custodial and grounds services transport materials to the collection containers on campus docks.
  • Step 3 — WUSTL's recycling vendor, IESI, transports the materials to their recycling sorting center located here in St. Louis
  • Step 4 — IESI sorts, processes, and redistributes the materials to manufacturers who reuse recycled materials.

Questions or Comments?
Please visit sustain.wustl.edu for more information or e-mail us at sustainability@wustl.edu