Recycling Essentials
Recycling at Tufts
Interior
A waste station consists of three bins:
 Mixed paper
 Mixed (AKA commingled) glass, metal & plastic
 Trash
Waste stations should be placed in each major hallway; in main gathering spots; and in or near each main
foyer. Depending on room occupancy and expected usage, multiple stations should be considered. Examples
of places where multiple stations might be warranted include:
 Large classrooms or auditoriums
 Long hallways
 Conference rooms with high usage
If the room is very small, a station should be positioned in a nearby hallway or closest exit.
All workstations should have a small blue paper bin.
Eateries, Laboratories and Specialized Spaces
Kitchenettes should have a minimum of two bins in or near them – one trash can and one ‘mixed glass,
metal & plastic’ bin.
Copy rooms and/or photocopiers/printers should have large paper recycling bins or “slim jims” if space is
tight (see Figure 1).
Spaces generating extraordinary large amounts of waste, or waste not included in the current Tufts
recycling program may have unique recycling needs. Consult with users of the space and the Tufts
Recycling Coordinator to see what bins would be most appropriate.
Recycling Worksheet
1. Please spend some time in the next two weeks assessing the recycling system in your building (or
section of your building if you’re in a very large building). Eco-ambassadors from the same building
should divide up their building to cover as much ground as possible. Look for and record the following
things on your worksheet:






Locations that need bins
Single trash cans (not near recycling bins)
Bins that need labels
Areas that need signs
Bins that need ties to connect the lids to the slim-jims (in areas where bins are in danger of losing
lids)
Areas where there appears to be waste-disposal confusion (i.e. a lot of trash contamination or
recyclables in the trash can)
Eco-Ambassadors
Fall 2008
1
Tufts Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.tufts.edu
Notes:
Each recycling bin should have:
 a sticker on each side
 a wall sign
 a lid
Wall signs: all bins should be under the correct wall sign. Note if it has been ripped off or defaced. Some
buildings do not have signs (we are not allowed to have them). These include: Ballou, Dowling, Fletcher
School, Tisch Library.
Sticker: All bins should have the correct label on both sides.
Lid: Make sure each bin has the correct lid.
2. Use the attached spreadsheet to interview staff from around your office/building to assess their
knowledge of recycling practices and services. Find out if they know how to dispose of the following
items
 paper
 cardboard
 all numbered plastics
 glass
 metal
 electronics (computers, etc)
 batteries
 cell phones
 florescent lightbulbs (e.g. CFLs)
3. Take down any notes on barriers to recycling compliance (lack of knowledge, lack of receptacles, lack
of interest, etc)
4. Bonus Q: What are the names of your custodian(s)?
Replacement costs:
Slim Jim $25
Lid $17
Sticker $1.50
Apprehending the bin-thief: priceless
Figure 1: Slim Jim
Recycling Resources
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Tufts Recycles! http://www.tufts.edu/tuftsrecycles/index2.html
Massachusetts Waste Ban Regulation (on Blackboard)
Eco-rep chapter (on Blackboard)

Tufts Recycling Coordinator, Dawn Quirk, recycle@tufts.edu
Eco-Ambassadors
Fall 2008
2
Tufts Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.tufts.edu
Your Name _______________________________
Building/Office___________________________________________________________
Recycling Knowledge
Building:
Name
Clarissa
Familiar with recycling:
(example)
paper
Yes
cardboard
Yes
all numbered plastics
No
glass
No
metal
No
electronics (computers, etc)
Yes
batteries
No
cell phones
florescent lightbulbs (e.g.
CFLs)
Yes
Barriers to recycling
Yes
Confused
about plastic
that is not in
the form of a
bottle
No recycling
bin near
desk
Eco-Ambassadors
Fall 2008
3
Tufts Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.tufts.edu
Your Name _______________________________
Building/Office___________________________________________________________
Recycling Inventory
Locations that need bins
Single trash cans (not
near recycling bins)
Bins that need labels
Areas that need signs
Bins that need ties to
connect the lids to the
slim-jims
Areas of confusion
Eco-Ambassadors
Fall 2008
4
Tufts Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.tufts.edu