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Waste Reduction and Recycling

Recycling Guide

Learn how to recycle right at NC State.

Recycling is one way that NC State can potentially recover the economic and environmental benefits of generated waste. What can, or cannot, be recycled is not universal; it is entirely dependent on our vendors, such as Sonoco Recycling and Waste Management, their processes, and the local/national/global markets for recycled materials.

The following items can be placed in the recycling bins, carts and dumpsters at NC State. Remember, to put recyclables in LOOSE. Bagged recyclables are NOT permitted.

accepted recycling items including plastic bottles, tubs, jugs and jars and metal cans
accepted recycling items including glass bottles and jars and paper, cartons, and cardboard

Remember, the following items are NOT accepted for recycling in our campus recycling bins, carts, & dumpsters:

For more information on where to recycle or properly dispose of these items (and more) on NC State’s campus, please click on an item below. Choose the first letter of the item to jump to that section.

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V
W

Please contact Environmental Health and Safety for questions regarding aerosol disposal procedures.

Acceptable Items

  • Cooking oil spray cans
  • Spray paint cans
  • Aerosol cleaners & chemicals

Recycling Tips

  • Aerosol cans must be separated from solid waste and recycling streams due to federal regulations and recycling facilities’ guidelines.
  • Collections and recycling of all aerosol cans are handled by Environmental Health and Safety.
  • Large generators of aerosol cans will be provided a blue cart which will be placed outside, near the yellow electronics cart.
  • Please contact EHS Staff for questions regarding aerosol disposal procedures and/or to request a cart for your building.

Recycling Tips

Acceptable Items

  • Aluminum cans
  • Clean baking pans
  • Clean pie tins
  • Clean aluminum foil

Recycling Tips

  • Always make sure your aluminum is free of food waste before recycling
  • If you are unsure if it is aluminum, squeeze it. If it remains scrunched together, it can be recycled. If it springs back to its original shape, it is not recyclable and should be placed in the landfill bin.

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Acceptable Items

  •  Non-hazardous barn waste and bedding

Recycling Locations

Many white goods can be sold to various purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. If the appliances are still in good working condition, find a reuse option before recycling. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Microwaves
  • Water heaters
  • Ovens
  • AC units
  • Appliances

Unacceptable Items

  • Lab fridges (contact EHS for questions regarding lab generated white-goods)

Reuse Options

  • Small household appliances can be donated during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to a local nonprofit

Recycling Tips

Recycling Location

For information regarding the autoclaved items process, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (919) 515-7915.

Acceptable Items

  • Biological, microbiological, and related wastes that have been autoclaved in accordance to University guidelines.

Disposal Information

  • Autoclaved waste should be placed in the red bio-hazardous waste containers, which are located in the vicinity of the larger solid waste landfill dumpsters at buildings containing autoclaves.
  • Orange biohazard bags are no longer used at NC State. Only clear bags are acceptable.
  • Labeled/marked biohazard bags cannot be placed in regular dumpsters or trash receptacles, even if disinfected.
  • If material cannot be decontaminated properly, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (919) 515-7915.

Acceptable Items

  • Fluorescent lighting system ballasts from NC State owned buildings only

Recycling Location

Reduce your use of single-use, alkaline batteries by switching to rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged inexpensively and reused hundreds of times. When the life of a rechargeable battery is over, it can be recycled.

Acceptable Items

  • Alkaline single-use batteries (can be disposed of on campus but are not currently able to be recycled)
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Small appliance batteries
  • Click here for information on lead-acid batteries (vehicle batteries)

Recycling Tips

  • Please tape the terminal ends for all batteries 9v and larger
  • Cell phone & laptop batteries should be placed in a sealed plastic bag (i.e. Ziploc bag) then boxed before being placed in the yellow bin.

Recycling Locations

  • Yellow electronics recycling bins located at outdoor waste and recycling sites

Contact our office if you have binders or any office/school supplies in good condition. Our office collects these items and holds giveaway days throughout the year as part of our Office Recycling Support. If unusable, please place items in a landfill bin.

Acceptable Items

  • Binders
  • Notebooks/Notepads
  • Folders
  • Dividers
  • Desk/Office accessories
  • Pens, pencils, markers, etc.

Clothing, bedding, blankets, and other textile items can often be donated to various charitable organizations. If possible, find a reuse option before disposing. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

Many books can be sold to various book purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. If possible, find a reuse option before recycling. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Paperback books
  • Hardback books

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to local nonprofits

Recycling Locations

  • If you have less than 5 books they can be recycled into a paper recycling bin on campus
  • If you have a large number of books, please contact us to arrange a special pick-up
plastic bag

Avoid plastic bags entirely, and bring your own reusable bag when shopping! Remember recycling must be placed in containers loose- never bag your recycling; keep it loose!

Acceptable Items

  • Plastic Bags
  • Newspaper bags
  • Bread bags
  • Produce bags
  • Dry cleaning bags
  • Case wrap
  • Bubble Wrap

Reuse Tip

  • Reuse a plastic bag to line a small waste bin instead of buying new plastic can liners

Recycling Tips

  • Make sure bags are clean and dry
  • Plastic bags should never be put in with mixed recycling as they can cause equipment malfunctions at the recycling center.
  • Are you collecting plastic film? Print and post this Plastic Film flyer!

Recycling Locations

  • Plastic film recycling is available at the Talley Student Union front desk
  • Many local grocery stores offer plastic bag recycling, including the Food Lion on Western Blvd and the Target on Hillsborough
  • Plastic Film recycling is also available for back-of-house operations at
    • Avent Ferry Technology
    • Biltmore Hall
    • CVM Main
    • DH Hill Library
    • Fitts-Woolard Hall
    • Hunt Library
    • Jordan Addition
    • Mail Services (Facilities Warehouse)
    • The Oval (loading dock)
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Schaub Food Science
    • Student Health Center
    • Sullivan III (WRR)
    • Talley Student Union (loading dock & information desk)
accepted electronics for e-recycling in the yellow carts on campus include cds, cellphones, cords, and computer equipment

Many personal electronic items can be sold to various purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. If the item is still in good working condition, find a reuse option before recycling. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Computers & accessories (monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, etc.)
  • Televisions, VCRs, DVD players
  • Cell phones & pagers
  • CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes
  • Digital cameras
  • USB devices
  • Cables & cords
  • Small appliances
  • Batteries

Unacceptable Items

  • Electronic cigarettes & cartridges

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to a local nonprofit

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

  • Yellow electronics recycling bins located at outdoor waste and recycling sites

Acceptable Items

  • Aluminum cans
  • Steel cans

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Acceptable Items

  • Lead acid batteries (vehicle batteries) from NC State owned vehicles only

Recycling Locations

Acceptable Items

  • Corrugated cardboard boxes
  • Cardboard appliance boxes
  • Shipping boxes

Recycling Tips

  • Break down and flatten all cardboard prior to recycling
  • Make sure all packaging materials are removed and properly discarded
  • Boxes containing food residue are not acceptable

Recycling Locations

  • Green cardboard dumpsters
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Carpets/throw rugs in good condition can often be donated. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to local nonprofits

Disposal Tips

  • Carpets/throw rugs in poor condition should be placed beside your nearest landfill dumpster for disposal. Do not place inside the dumpsters because they can cause damage to the compaction equipment.

Acceptable Items

  • Toner cartridges
  • Printer ink

Recycling Tips

  • Please place used cartridges/ink in original packaging or a closed bag prior to recycling

Recycling Locations

  • Yellow electronics recycling bins located at outdoor waste and recycling site

Clothing, bedding, blankets and other textile items can often be donated to various charitable organizations. If possible, find a reuse option before disposing. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

The NC State Compost Facility and Research Cooperative can process up to 1,200 tons of organic waste annually, collected across our campus. Help NC State meet its 70% waste diversion goal by composting the following:

FoodCompostable ProductsOrganics
VegetablesBPI-Certified ServicewarePlant Material
FruitsCompostable Coca-Cola Cup, Lid & StrawSoil
MeatPizza BoxesFlowers
BonesBamboo Plates
DairyNapkins
GrainsPaper Coffee Filters
BreadPaper Bags
EggshellsCompostable Bags
Coffee Grounds
Pizza

Unacceptable Items

  • Plastic bags
  • To-Go cups
  • Plastic utensils
  • Wrappers
  • All plastics
  • Recyclables
  • General landfill waste

Composting Tips

  • Always make sure your compost is free of plastic packaging, stickers, staples, and other manufactured materials
  • If you are unsure if it is compostable, contact us! However, when in doubt, throw it in a waste-to-landfill bin.
  • Visit NC State Composts for more information
  • Take Composting 101 on REPORTER

Campus Composting Locations

For compost generated on campus, compost dumpsters and bins are available in the following locations:

Outdoor DumpstersInside BinsBack-Of-House
Avent Ferry Complex512 BrickhavenArboretum Greenhouses
Becton HallAdministrative Services ICase Dining
Bragaw Hall NorthAdministrative Services IIClark Dining
Bragaw Hall SouthAdministrative Services IIIFountain Dining
ES King Beaufort HallArboretum Ruby Mcswain Education CenterFox Science Teaching Lab
ES King Edgecombe HallBiltmore HallLonnie Pool Clubhouse
Metcalf HallCarmichael GymMethod Units 1-3
Western Manor CentralCBC Main BuildingPark Alumni Center
Western Manor P/QCBC Research BuildingWolf Ridge On the Oval
Wolf Ridge ApartmentsCBC Terry CenterReedy Creek Research
Wolf Village ApartmentsFitts-Woolard HallTalley Student Union
Wood HallHodges Wood Products
Howling Cow Creamery
Jordan Hall Addition
Jordan Hall
LexisNexis
Pulp and Paper
Schaub Food Science
Sullivan Shops I
Sullivan Shops III
Talley Student Union
Witherspoon Student Center

Off-Campus Composting Locations

Acceptable Items (Compost Only)

  • Coffee Grounds (please cool prior to placing in bin)
  • Paper Filters

Post-Consumer Composting Locations

  • Talley Student Union
  • On the Oval
  • Administrative Services Bldg. I, II, & III
  • Sullivan Shops I, II, & III
  • JC Raulston Arboretum

Reuse Options

  • K-Cups and other single serve coffee filters cannot be recycled locally here in the City of Raleigh. An alternative to creating this type of waste is to purchase a reusable filter for these types of machines

Sustainability Tips

  • Coffee is offered at almost every NC State Dining location. If your office or residence hall has its own coffee maker, be sure to buy ground, fair trade, shade grown coffee.
  • Disposable cups cannot be recycled locally here in the City of Raleigh. Help keep disposable cups out of the landfill, bring your own cup, bottle or mug! Receive 10 cents off when you bring your reusable cup to all retail locations on campus.bringing your own

Construction and Demolition materials can only be accepted from on-campus projects.

Acceptable Items

  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Wood
  • Metal
  • Wiring
  • PVC pipe and fittings

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

Cease the Grease is a partnership between WRR and University Housing. This program is an expansion of the university’s successful cooking grease recycling program in on-campus dining facilities, which recycle about 800 gallons of oil a month.

Acceptable Items

  • Cooking Grease
  • Cooking Oil

Recycling Tips

  • Do not pour cooking grease/oil down the drain
  • Cool your grease/oil and pour into a plastic Cease the Grease container or a glass or metal container
  • Empty the container into your designated bin
  • Visit the University Housing Cease the Grease page for tips and information

Recycling Locations

  • Designated Cease the Grease green oil containers are located near the outdoor waste and recycling sites at all of the on-campus apartments

Acceptable Items

  • Cubicles from NC State owned buildings only

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

Dead Animal/Roadkill Removal

  • If a deceased animal is found on campus, please call the Facilities Operations Customer Service Center at (919) 515-2991

Medical Waste Animal Mortality

  • Do not dispose of animal mortalities in the municipal solid waste dumpsters
  • For more information, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (919) 515-7915
accepted electronics for e-recycling in the yellow carts on campus include cds, cellphones, cords, and computer equipment

Many personal electronic items can be sold to various purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. If the item is still in good working condition, find a reuse option before recycling. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Computers & accessories (monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, etc.)
  • Televisions, VCRs, DVD players
  • Cell phones & pagers
  • CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes
  • Digital cameras
  • USB devices
  • Cables & cords
  • Small appliances
  • Batteries

Unacceptable Items

  • Electronic cigarettes & cartridges

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to a local nonprofit

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

  • Yellow electronics recycling bins located at outdoor waste and recycling sites

Electronic cigarettes and accessories are not recyclable on campus.

Please dispose of them in a waste-to-landfill bin on campus.

Furniture can typically be sold to various purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. Please try to find a reuse option before disposing. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Chairs
  • Desks
  • Filing cabinets
  • Dressers

Unacceptable Items

Reuse Options

  • Furniture can be donated during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to a local nonprofit

Disposal Tips

Mattresses and futons in good condition can often be donated. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to local nonprofits

Disposal Tips

Acceptable Items

  • Milk Cartons
  • Juice Cartons

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Acceptable Items

  • Propane Tanks owned by NC State University
  • Compressed Gas Cylinders owned by NC State University

Recycling Tips

  • When returning compressed gas cylinders to the vendor, remove the gas connections, replace cylinder caps and return cylinders to suppliers by calling NC State Central Stores at (919) 515-2197
  • Lecture bottles are generally not returnable to the vendor and may need to be disposed of as hazardous waste through Environmental Health & Safety
  • Environmental Health & Safety recommends not using lecture bottles due to high disposal costs
  • Non-regulated cylinders (such as helium and calibration gasses) can be recycled at our Dearstyne Convenience Site to be collected for scrap metal if they are depressurized and have their valve removed.

Recycling Locations

Acceptable Items

  • Glass food containers
  • Glass beverage containers

Unacceptable Items

Recycling Tips

  • Empty and lightly rinse before recycling

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Illegal dumping is when someone disposes of waste in an unauthorized area.

If you witness illegal dumping or see an area on campus that someone has illegally disposed of materials please call the Facilities Operations Customer Service Center at (919) 515-2991.

For more information on illegal dumping, visit the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality website.

Please contact Environmental Health and Safety for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures.

Acceptable Items

Unacceptable Items

  • Lab glass
  • Chemical containers
  • Vials
  • Pipette tips
  • Medical waste
  • Lab fridges

Recycling Tips

  • Please contact EHS Staff for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures.

Acceptable Items

  • Lead acid batteries (vehicle batteries) from NC State owned vehicles only

Recycling Locations

cfl and led light bulbs

Acceptable Items

Unacceptable Items

Recycling Locations

Mattresses and futons in good condition can often be donated. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to local nonprofits

Disposal Tips

Follow any specific disposal instructions on the prescription drug labeling or patient information that accompanies the medicine. Please contact the NC State Student Health Center for more information regarding proper disposal of medication.

Recycling Tips

Recycling Locations

Metals are fully recyclable and valuable.

Acceptable Items

  • Aluminum
  • Steel
  • Copper
  • Other metals under 8 feet

Recycling Tips

  • Do not place metal into landfill dumpsters
  • For large items, please contact us

Recycling Locations

Contact our office if you have binders or any office/school supplies in good condition. Our office collects these items and holds giveaway days throughout the year as part of our Office Recycling Support. If unusable, please place items in a landfill bin.

Acceptable Items

  • Binders
  • Notebooks/Notepads
  • Folders
  • Dividers
  • Desk/Office accessories
  • Pens, pencils, markers, etc.

Contact our office if you have binders or any office/school supplies in good condition. Our office collects these items and holds giveaway days throughout the year as part of our Office Recycling Support. If unusable, please place items in a landfill bin.

Acceptable Items

  • Binders
  • Notebooks/Notepads
  • Folders
  • Dividers
  • Desk/Office accessories
  • Pens, pencils, markers, etc.

Acceptable Items

  • Motor Oil
  • Anti-Freeze

Recycling Locations

Styrofoam is not able to be recycled on campus because there is no local market at this time. We strongly encourage you to reduce your use of Styrofoam products.

Packing Peanuts

  • Check with a local mailing facility to determine if they have a reuse/recycle program
  • Donate to the Scrap Exchange

Acceptable Items

  • Newspaper
  • Office paper
  • Brochures
  • Magazines
  • Junk mail
  • Paperboard
  • Paper tubes
  • Clean paper bags

Unacceptable Items

Recycling Tips

  • Break down small paperboard boxes (ex. Cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.) before recycling
  • Make sure boxes and bags are not contaminated with food waste

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Acceptable Items

  • Pallets

Recycling Tips

  • Do not place pallets into landfill dumpsters. Pallets are BANNED from landfill disposal by  North Carolina General Statute 130A-309.10(f-m).
  • 1-5 pallets can be left next to dumpsters or in service areas. Pallet pick-up is not on a set schedule. Pallets will be collected when the Grounds crew has time and/or space at no charge.
  • University employees may take pallets to Dearstyne Convenience Site for recycling at no charge.
  • For more than 5 pallets, please contact us for service; billing may apply.
  • Large generators of pallets should work with their vendors for take-back programs and reuse.

Recycling Locations

pipette tip containers

Please contact Environmental Health and Safety for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures. Please note that due to current market conditions, pipette boxes and pipette wafers cannot be recycled in your building’s mixed recycling bins, carts, and/or dumpsters.

Recycling Tips

  • Please contact EHS Staff for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures.
  • Utilize a vendor who will take back tip boxes and trays for reuse &/or to recycle
  • Pipette boxes & wafers may be recycled at Dearstyne Convenience Site in the rigid plastics rolloff.

Unacceptable Items

  • Pipette Tips
half-eaten pizza inside pizza box

Pizza boxes are not always able to be recycled due to grease and cheese residue left on the boxes. At NC State University pizza boxes can be composted. The Pizza Box Composting Project is a partnership between WRR and University Housing.

Acceptable Items

Composting Tips

  • Remove all plastic pizza stands, sauce containers and packets from the pizza box before composting
  • Do not compost any type of plastic (ex. plastic utensils, cups, plates)
  • Visit the University Housing Pizza Box Composting Project page for more tips and information

Composting Locations (13)

  • Avent Ferry Complex (waste station by Fort Fisher Hallor F building)
  • Bragaw- South, Lee and Sullivan halls (Lee Hall parking lot by the trash dumpster)
  • Bragaw- North, Lee and Sullivan halls (Bragaw Hall parking lot by the trash dumpster)
  • Bowen, Carroll, Metcalf halls (against the brick wall near the trash dumpster)
  • ES King Village (Beaufort Hall parking lot)
  • ES King Village (Edgecombe Hall parking lot)
  • ES King Village (Granville Hall parking lot)
  • Quad Commons (formerly Honors Village, against Becton & tucked behind existing trash & recycling dumpsters)
  • Western Manor (central waste station)
  • Western Manor (Apts. P/Q parking lot)
  • Wolf Village (waste station by the bus stop)
  • Wolf Ridge (waste station by Plaza Hall)
  • Wood Hall

Click here to view a map of the pizza box composting dumpsters.

plastic bag

Avoid plastic bags entirely, and bring your own reusable bag when shopping! Remember recycling must be placed in containers loose- never bag your recycling; keep it loose!

Acceptable Items

  • Plastic Bags
  • Newspaper bags
  • Bread bags
  • Produce bags
  • Dry cleaning bags
  • Case wrap
  • Bubble Wrap

Reuse Tip

  • Reuse a plastic bag to line a small waste bin instead of buying new plastic can liners

Recycling Tips

  • Make sure bags are clean and dry
  • Plastic bags should never be put in with mixed recycling as they can cause equipment malfunctions at the recycling center.
  • Are you collecting plastic film? Print and post this Plastic Film flyer!

Recycling Locations

  • Plastic film recycling is available at the Talley Student Union front desk
  • Many local grocery stores offer plastic bag recycling, including the Food Lion on Western Blvd and the Target on Hillsborough
  • Plastic Film recycling is also available for back-of-house operations at
    • Avent Ferry Technology
    • Biltmore Hall
    • CVM Main
    • DH Hill Library
    • Fitts-Woolard Hall
    • Hunt Library
    • Jordan Addition
    • Mail Services (Facilities Warehouse)
    • The Oval (loading dock)
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Schaub Food Science
    • Student Health Center
    • Sullivan III (WRR)
    • Talley Student Union (loading dock & information desk)

Acceptable Items

  • Plastic bottles with caps on
  • Laundry detergent bottles
  • Yogurt and butter tubs
  • Plastic Souvenir cups

Unacceptable Items

  • Plastic clamshells (berry containers, to-go food containers, etc.)
  • Thin brittle plastic cups (ex. solo cups)
  • Lab chemical containers- contact EHS for proper disposal information
  • PLA cups or containers made from corn and other plant starches – these items are meant to be composted and not recycled!

Recycling Tips

  • Leave bottle caps on so they are not lost during the recycling process
  • Empty and lightly rinse before recycling
  • Plastic bags should only be recycled in designated bins specifically for plastic bags as they can damage equipment at recycling centers
  • Recycling symbols on containers do not mean that the product is recyclable! Recyclability is based on our current recycling facility processes and the global market for resale value.
  • Contact us for help or more information

Recycling Locations

  • Bottles & cans recycling bins
  • Mixed recycling bins
  • Blue mixed recycling dumpsters

Why are some plastics not recyclable?

  • Not all plastics can be recycled because these is either not a process for sorting it out at the recycling facility or there is not a stable market for those items.
  • Certain plastics also end up breaking into tiny pieces during the sorting process and end up as residual waste.

Acceptable Items

  • Propane Tanks owned by NC State University
  • Compressed Gas Cylinders owned by NC State University

Recycling Tips

  • When returning compressed gas cylinders to the vendor, remove the gas connections, replace cylinder caps and return cylinders to suppliers by calling NC State Central Stores at (919) 515-2197
  • Lecture bottles are generally not returnable to the vendor and may need to be disposed of as hazardous waste through Environmental Health & Safety
  • Environmental Health & Safety recommends not using lecture bottles due to high disposal costs
  • Non-regulated cylinders (such as helium and calibration gasses) can be recycled at our Dearstyne Convenience Site to be collected for scrap metal if they are depressurized and have their valve removed.

Recycling Locations

Dead Animal/Roadkill Removal

  • If a deceased animal is found on campus, please call the Facilities Operations Customer Service Center at (919) 515-2991

Medical Waste Animal Mortality

  • Do not dispose of animal mortalities in the municipal solid waste dumpsters
  • For more information, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (919) 515-7915

Carpets/throw rugs in good condition can often be donated. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Reuse Options

  • Donate during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to local nonprofits

Disposal Tips

  • Carpets/throw rugs in poor condition should be placed beside your nearest landfill dumpster for disposal. Do not place inside the dumpsters because they can cause damage to the compaction equipment.

Only shred documents with sensitive information and recycle all other papers. Shredding documents shortens the paper fibers. When you recycle whole pieces of paper it keeps the fibers long, strong and ready to be made into new paper.

Acceptable Items

  • Shredded paper

Reuse Options

  • Animal bedding
  • Packing material
  • Worm bin

Recycling Tips

  • Keep shredded paper in closed bags
  • Use clear recycling bags if possible and label bag “shredded paper”
  • Place next to the outdoor blue recycling dumpster/cart or yellow electronics recycling cart for pickup
  • For more than 5 bags, please contact us
  • Think before you shred! Only shred when necessary for documents such as pay stubs, bank statements, pre-approved credit card applications, medical records, tax forms and anything containing social security numbers or credit card numbers.

Recycling Locations

  • Place outside next to a yellow electronics recycling cart for pickup
  • Place outside next to a blue mixed recycling dumpster for pickup

Styrofoam is not able to be recycled on campus because there is no local market at this time. We strongly encourage you to reduce your use of Styrofoam products.

Packing Peanuts

  • Check with a local mailing facility to determine if they have a reuse/recycle program
  • Donate to the Scrap Exchange

Please contact Environmental Health and Safety for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures. Syringe cases cannot be recycled in your building’s mixed recycling bins, carts, and/or dumpsters. However, they can be collected separately in specially marked bins & carts labeled “Recycle Syringe Cases”.

Recycling Locations

  • Syringe case recycling is only available at the College of Veterinary Medecine at this time
  • Please contact Adam Bensley for questions regarding this specialty collection program

Acceptable Items

  • Tires from NC State owned vehicles only
  • Tires must be off the rim

Recycling Locations

napkins belong in landfill or can be composted

Used tissues (i.e. Kleenex) or napkins containing bodily liquids can only be composted on campus. If a compost bin is not available, please place these items in a landfill bin.

Composting Locations

Acceptable Items

  • Lead acid batteries (vehicle batteries) from NC State owned vehicles only

Recycling Locations

Please contact Environmental Health and Safety for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures.

Acceptable Items

Unacceptable Items

  • Lab glass
  • Chemical containers
  • Vials
  • Pipette tips
  • Medical waste
  • Lab fridges

Recycling Tips

  • Please contact EHS Staff for questions regarding lab waste disposal procedures.

Many white goods can be sold to various purchasers or donated to charitable organizations. If the appliances are still in good working condition, find a reuse option before recycling. For NC State property, please contact University Surplus Property Services.

Acceptable Items

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Microwaves
  • Water heaters
  • Ovens
  • AC units
  • Appliances

Unacceptable Items

  • Lab fridges (contact EHS for questions regarding lab generated white-goods)

Reuse Options

  • Small household appliances can be donated during Wolf Pack N Give, NC State’s move-out program
  • Donate to a local nonprofit

Recycling Tips

Recycling Location