The University of Iowa is on a mission to be an exemplary green institution, and we're counting on every Hawkeye to make it happen. That's why we've added sort-free recycling to our environmental program. 

Single-stream recycling toolkit:

• See this video about sort-free recycling on campus
• Where does our recycling go? See this YouTube video.
• Recycling guide showing acceptable and non-acceptable items. (PDF)
• Pocket recycling guide
• Frequently asked questions.
• See more recycling opportunities at City Carton Recycling and the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center

Now you can put all your approved recyclable materials into a single container- toss your plastic bottles, aluminum cans, magazines, cardboard, even tin cans and cereal boxes into the recycling bin. It's never been easier to do what's right for the environment.

Recycle more. Landfill less.

Right now,  the University of Iowa diverts about 30% of our trash from local landfills. Impressive, yes. But we can do better and you can help us reach a 60% waste diversion goal by 2020. Look for recycling bins, stickers and posters all around campus, and do your part to make a difference.

Even small changes can make a big impact on the environment we all share. Consider this:

• Recycling a single aluminum can saves the same amount of energy needed to power a TV for four hours.
• Recycled newspapers can be made into cereal boxes, egg cartons, pencil barrels, grocery bags, tissue paper and many other products, including new newspapers.
• It takes a thousand years for a plastic water bottle to begin to decompose.

Acceptable Materials

           Paper 

• All white, colored, and coated papers 
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Magazines, catalogs, phone books
• Envelopes (with plastic windows or  labels) 
• Folders (manila, coated, or colored)
• Newspapers and inserts 
• Soft-covered and paperback books, phone books and manuals. Hardbound books are not accepted.

           Cardboard & Chipboard

• Corrugated cardboard (it helps to flatten and stack).

• • Boxes with staples
  • Brown paper sacks
  • Paperboard(such as cereal, pop and frozen food boxes).
  • Pizza boxes are accepted if they don't contain food. 

Not accepted: wax-coated cardboard and anything with food scraps must be placed in the trash.

           Plastics

• Containers marked #1-#7 (except Styrofoam) 
• Plastic water bottles and fruit drink bottles
• Rinsed food containers, milk jugs, juice jugs, yogurt containers

           Metal

• Tin or steel cans

• Aluminum cans, such as pop, tea, or energy drink containers
• Aluminum food containers(clean)

Non-Acceptable Materials

Styrofoam (aka polystrene)

• Cups, plates
• Packaging peanuts and other materials
• Fast food and clam-shell to-go containers

Glass

• Bottles and containers
• Light bulbs

Food Waste

Plastic grocery sacks, baggies, plastic packaging, shrink wrap

Wood