Collectable Recycling Sorting Guide
KU Recycling collects the following materials at most locations. Click on each item (or scroll down the page) for more information on what materials are included in each class.
Office Pak
Newspaper
Aluminum Cans
#1 Plastic
Additional materials are collected at some locations or can be recycled through special collections. Click on each item (or scroll down the page) for more information on what materials are included in each class. For additional information about recycling these materials, contact the KU Recycling office at 864-2855.
#2 Plastic
Steel Cans
Shredded Paper
Mixed Paper
Corrugated Cardboard
Chipboard
Magazines
Telephone Directories & Catalogs
In order to better serve KU students, faculty, and staff, KU Recycling has a recycling trailer available to drop off your recyclables from home any time, any day in the West Park & Ride Lot (southwest corner of Lot 302) off of 23rd Street (parking available next to trailer while unloading only).
Please place tied-off bags of recyclables into the appropriate compartment. The KU Recycling drop-off trailer accepts the same materials listed here.

Material placed in recycling bins serviced by KU Recycling should only contain non-confidential and public information. Departments may either shred secure documents "in-house" or contact a paper/document shredding company to coordinate secure disposal. Please visit the KU Purchasing Office contracts website for more information about KU's "paper/document shredding" service provider options.
Click here for more tips on how delete or dispose of information when moving around or away from KU.
Includes:
White Paper
Pastel Colored Paper
Brochures
Stapled Books
Envelopes
Manila File Folders
Junk Mail
Greeting Cards
Heavy Weight Paper
Does Not Include:
Newsprint
Cardboard or Chipboard
Paper or Styrofoam Cups
Napkins or Tissues
Food Contaminated Paper
Magazines or Glossy Paper
Books with Glued Binding
Paper Bags
Includes:
All Newsprint
Does Not Include:
Magazines or Glossy Paper
Catalogs
Phone Books
Note about corrugated cardboard: It has a wavy inner layer between smooth outer layers.
All boxes should be unfolded and flattened.
Includes:
Corrugated Cardboard boxes
Corrugated Packaging
Does Not Include:
Soiled Pizza Boxes
Waxy Cardboard
Any boxes that have food contamination
Includes:
Cereal Boxes
Other Paperboard Packaging
Does Not Include:
Corrugated Cardboard
Office Pack
Food Contaminated boxes
Includes:
Magazines
Glossy Paper
Does Not Include:
Junk Mail
Phone Directories
Includes campus and municipal phone books and catologs with similar construction (heavy-weight cover with newspaper-like pages)
Grades of paper not listed above, including journals, hard-back books and glue-bound books should be recycled separately from other materials.
Bags of shredded paper should be tied shut to close bag completely. Do not put shredded overheads or any other type of plastics in with the shredded office pak. DO NOT put shredded paper in, or stack on top of or next to the regular recycling bins. Instead, contact KU Recycling for a special collection.
Includes:
Aluminum cans ONLY
Does Not Include:
Foil Food Wrappers
Steel or Tin Cans
Empty contents and rinse residue from cans. Open bottom and flatten with lids inside when possible.
Includes:
Steel (tin) cans ONLY
Does Not Include:
Aluminum Cans
Bottles of any kind
Sheet or Scrap Metal
Look for the "1" on the bottom. Please empty contents and discard lids before recycling.
Includes:
Soda Bottles
Water Bottles
Other Transparent Plastic Bottles
Does Not Include:
Milk Jugs
Detergent Bottles
Yogurt Cups
Plastic Bags
Look for the "2" on the bottom. Please empty contents and discard lids before recycling.
Includes:
Milk and Juice Containers
Detergent Bottles
Other colored #2 Plastic bottles
Does Not Include:
Pop Bottles
Yogurt Cups
Plastic Bags



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