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Speciality Recycling and Disposal

June 18, 2024

For financial and liability reasons, Macalester does not accept e-waste or styrofoam that is generated off campus.  E-waste or styrofoam generated by employees and students at home’ will not be accepted.

Appliances Managed by Facilities Services , located on the lower level of the Music Building. Contact them at [email protected] with any questions. Or fill out a ticket here https://www.macalester.edu/facilities-services/workrequests/
Bon Appetit All disposable wares from food prepared by Bon Appetit are compostable, including catering, to-go containers, and chop sticks. This does NOT include commercially packed items sold by Bon Appetit.
Free Swap and 1550 SummitSee donation list located here
Electronic Waste (E-Waste)Collected primarily at the ITS Help Desk located in 316 Humanities on campus.  For financial and liability reasons, Macalester does not accept e-waste or styrofoam that is generated off campus.  E-waste or styrofoam generated by employees ‘at home’ will not be accepted. Small items such as radios, cell phones, and computer components, can be brought to the e-waste recycling bin located in the Mail Room on the lower level of the Campus Center.
One-sided Office Paper Drop-off in labeled bins in the Library (and other places) to be up-cycled into a notebook for their Onesies project. If you would like to request a collection bin for the Onesies projects, you may contact the library
Plastic Bags and FilmClean and dry plastic bags (including ice bags from the LC) and film can be deposited into plastic bag collection bins located near the Janet Wallace entrance, the entrance to the Library, Mailing Services, and the Leonard Center.
Compost
Compost anything that was once living. Visit the Composting page for more information.
Trash
RecyclingBins located in and around all campus buildings. Recycle aluminum cans and foil, unsoiled cardboard, broken or whole glass, unsoiled paper, plastics numbers 1,2,5 steel and tin cans.
Light Bulbs It is unlawful to throw away a fluorescent bulb in the trash
Broken Fluorescent BulbsAny kind are hazardous and dangerous waste; please contact Facilities Services immediately for safe clean up. Call 651-696-6278 or Email
Fluorescent Light, CFL and LED BulbsIntact CFL bulbs can be places into the collection bin located in the Mail Room in the Lower level of Campus Center
Fluorescent Light, TubeIntact fluorescent tubes are collected by Facilities Services and should not be left for collection in any public location
Incandescent BulbsGo in the trash

Special Disposal Cheat Sheet of Locations

WasteWaste TypeDrop off Location
Batteries, Computere-wasteITS Help Desk, Humanities 316
Batteries, Household (Alkaline, Lithium, etc.)specializedCampus Center Mail Room, Lower Level
BooksspecializedLibrary, First Floor or The Free Swap
Electronic wastee-wasteITS Help Desk, Humanities 316
Fluorescent Bulbs, CFLhazardousFacilities Services, Lower Level Campus Center
Fluorescent Bulbs, tubularhazardousFacilities Services
Fluorescent Bulbs, brokenhazardousFacilities Services
Paper, one sidedSpecializedOnesies collection bins throughout campus (library and other locations)
Plastic film or bagsSpecializedPlastic film containers throughout campus (Library, Campus Center, 1550 Summit and various other locations
Polystyrene (Styrofoam)SpecializedFacilities Services, Lower Level of the Music Building or fill out a ticket request here https://www.macalester.edu/facilities-services/workrequests/