Recycling General Guidance Details (FAQs)
1. Where do we find general guidance on recycling?
If you can’t find it here, check with the Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention Coordinator.
2. How do we separate materials?
As of October 2005, the recycling program has been modified to accommodate the following new features:
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White Paper and Newspaper need not be separated – these papers may be deposited into Mixed Paper recycling carts.
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Mixed Paper may be deposited into White Paper or Newspaper recycling carts.
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Continue to follow the instruction for Mixed Paper that indicate which materials are excluded from Mixed Paper recycling. Add white paper and newspaper to the mix.
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Existing labels for all recycling carts used to collect paper– Mixed Paper, White Paper, and Newspaper – will be the same as before (it is not cost-effective to re-label the carts at this time). Essentially all recycling carts for paper are Mixed Paper recycling carts. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.
All recycling carts labeled Bottles and Cans now accept the following:
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Plastic beverage bottles (only containers with necks) number 3 through 7
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Aseptic containers (Aseptic containers are “drink boxes” that hold primarily beverages such as milk, fruit juice and wine. They are usually made with high quality paper, polyethylene and small percentage of aluminum.) Empty contents as much as you can.
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Do not use the carts to recycle Styrofoam blocks or “peanuts.” Place Styrofoam blocks in trash and bag peanuts before disposing in the trash. If peanuts are in a box, fold or tape the box shut and leave next to a “Cardboard Only” dumpster or trash dumpster.
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Existing Bottles and Cans labels are the same as before. It is not cost-effective to change labels at this time. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.
Note: Although employees can redeem their own bottles or cans that they have purchased, it is not recommended since it encourages clutter and pests. If you wish to obtain your own monetary return on bottles or cans, then please bring them home on a daily basis; otherwise, use the SLAC-assigned collection carts.
- Hardback books are recyclable. Deposit in a White Paper, Mixed Paper, or Newspaper cart.
- Shredded white paper (stringy cut) is recyclable. White Paper, Mixed Paper, or Newspaper cart.
- Paper from crosscut shredders (looks like confetti) has no recycle value. Please bag this material before depositing it to the trash.
- Carbon-less carbon paper is recyclable. Deposit in a White Paper, Mixed Paper, or Newspaper cart.
- Blueprint and coated plotter papers must be disposed of in the trash; a recycling option is not available at this time. If you can identify that a plotter paper is not coated (check with paper manufacturer) it can be recycled as White Paper. Drawings from a large size Xerox machine are also recyclable. Deposit in a White Paper, Mixed Paper, or Newspaper cart.
4. Where can we obtain collection carts for recyclable paper and recyclable bottles and cans?
Check first with your Building Manager. If approved by your Building Manager, place a request with CEF (ext. 8901).
5. Where can one obtain a desktop collection box?
Check with Waste Management (ext. 2399). Having a desktop box in your office can help reduce the frequency of trips to recycle collection carts. Desktop boxes can also help you recover a document that you might have hastily thrown away to the trash or recycle cart.
6. What do I do if I have a lot of recyclable paper and beverage bottles and cans?
Please moderate the quantity of materials deposited to the recycle collection cart so that they do not overflow and so that others can contribute during the week. If you have a large quantity of paper, consider holding some material for a week, try some other nearby recycling carts, or use the recycling carts at the assigned outdoor locations.
7. What do we do if we have a major off cleanout project that has recyclable materials?
If you have a large quantity of recyclable material because of a special project, an office cleanout, or a special occasion, please coordinate with your Building Manager and call CEF (ext. 8901) to determine the availability of extra recycling carts.
8. Does SLAC obtain a rebate for recycled materials?
Yes. SLAC currently receives about 50 percent of the subcontractor's market value for recycled material. Market prices vary. At SLAC, corrugated cardboard offers a return of $65 to $90 per ton and mixed paper offers a return of $60 to $85 per ton (both values are before splitting with the subcontractor.
9. What do we do with cardboard?
Corrugated cardboard has three layers with the middle cardboard layer groove. This material should be deposited in a dumpster labeled "Cardboard Only." Dumpster locations are shown below. Check with your Building Manager to identify how corrugated cardboard is handled in your building. When recycling corrugated cardboard boxes, please remove contents and recycle where practical. Other types of cardboard, usually called paperboard (looks like the same material used for cereal boxes) can be recycled as Mixed Paper. If a corrugated box contains Styrofoam beads ("peanuts", leave the beads in the box, fold or tape the box shut and leave near a "Cardboard Only" dumpster or a trash dumpster.
10. How to we recycle transparencies?
For transparencies used in overhead projectors, place no more than 50 transparencies in an inter-office envelope and mail to the attention of Waste Management, MS 36. Please send transparencies only; separate transparencies from accompanying paper or protective plastic wrappers. Contact the Waste Management Department (ext. 2399) if you have questions.
11. What do we do with computer floppy disks?
Computer floppy disks are recycled by SLAC by sending them to charitable organizations that reuse them as storage media in computers or use them for teacher-sponsored projects for students. If you have floppy disks you no longer need, please put the disks in SLAC mail (Property Control/Salvage Warehouse, Mail Stop 85A, ext. 2329) or drop them off at the Salvage Warehouse (Building 28). When enough disks are collected, the Waste Management Group sends them to a charitable organization. Please send only floppy disks, no compact disks (CDs). If you have important or copyrighted information on the disks, please note that the information will be magnetically erased by the Salvage Group before sending to the charitable organization.
12. What do we do with compact disks (CDs)?
A recycling program is in development for CDs. Unlike floppy disks, not all CDs are erasable. This can create some issues in regard to copyright infringement and DOE security management concerns. We will provide more information on development of a CD recycling program soon.
