KU Recycling Sorting Guidelines
The following sorting guide is for on-campus recycling. To learn more about recycling drop-off opportunities for off-campus students, faculty, and staff, click here.
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 P.E.T Plastic Bottles
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.
Currogated Cardboard
Chipboard
Shredded Paper
Magazines
Telephone Directories & Catalogs
Mixed Paper
Steel Cans
#2 H.D.P.E Plastic Bottles
Glass
Includes:
White Paper
Colored Paper
Brochures
Stapled Books
Envelopes
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
Aluminum Cans
Please empty contents before recycling.
Includes:
Aluminum cans ONLY
Does Not Include:
Foil Food Wrappers
Steel or Tin Cans
#1 P.E.T. Plastic Bottles
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
Currogated Cardboard
All boxes should be unfolded and flattened.
Note: Look for the wavy inner layer between smooth outer layers.
Includes:
Currogated Cardboard boxes
Currogated Packaging
Does Not Include:
Soiled Pizza Boxes
Waxy Cardboard
Any type of food contaminated boxes
Chipboard
All boxes should be unfolded and flattened.
Includes:
Cereal Boxes
Other Paperboard Packaging
Does Not Include:
Currogated Cardboard
Office Pack
Food Contaminated boxes
Shredded Paper
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 the regular recycling bins. Instead, contact KU Recycling at 864-2855 for a
special collection.
Includes:
Magazines
Glossy Paper
Does Not Include:
Junk Mail
Phone Directories
Telephone Directores & Catalogs
Includes campus and municipal phone books and catologs with similar construction (heavy-weight cover with newspaper-like pages)
Mixed Paper
Grades of paper not listed above, including journals, hard-back books and glue-bound books should be recycled separately from other materials.
Steel 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
#2 H. D. P. E. Plastic Bottles
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
Glass Bottles
Please empty contents and discard lids before recycling.
Includes:
Glass Bottles and Jars ONLY
Green, Brown, & Clear Glass)
Does Not Include:
Panes of Glass
Ceramic bottles or jars
