How to Recycle on SUU Campus
Posted: November 12, 2025 | Author: Clare-Estelle Perkins | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University is deeply dedicated to sustainability, but for a time, our recycling efforts faced a major hurdle: high contamination rates forced us to remove campus recycling bins. Good news, T-Birds! The SUU recycling team has worked hard to reintroduce the program across campus, and now we need your help to make it a success.
Contamination happens when non-recyclable items are placed in the recycling bins. So, don't throw in anything you wouldn't want to touch with your bare hands, like food, tissues, or napkins. One inappropriate item can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables!
There are over 90 recycling bins across campus for departments, classes, and clubs to use. To keep our program running smoothly and prevent contamination, follow these specific guidelines for what is and is not accepted in SUU’s mixed recycling bins. When in doubt, throw it out!
Accepted Recyclables (Must be Clean and Dry!)
- #1, #2, and #5 Plastics: Look for the number stamped on the bottom of the container. If a product doesn't have a number, it belongs in the trash bin.
- Mixed Paper Products: Common office paper, mail, magazines, etc.
- Flattened Cardboard
- Metals
Not Accepted Recyclables
- Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7
- Glass
- Waxed and Carbon Paper
- Paper smaller than a credit card (like sticky notes)
- Food, Tissues, or Napkins
- Shredded Paper (See special instruction below)
Recycling may seem like a lot, but even small efforts can lead to major changes when it is shared.
Beyond the Bin: What Happens Next?
The SUU recycling bins are emptied by the sustainability specialist and student employees. In 2024 alone, the program collected and recycled 23.7 tons of materials! Departments, classes, and clubs can request a pick-up for their bin by using the online Request a Recycling Pick-up form. These submissions are the team's first priority.
SUU Recycling only services SUU bins, so please do not bring recycling from home to drop off on campus. Residential recycling near SUU is handled by private services like Recyclops, which offers paid curbside pick-up; and the USU Extension Office in Iron County, which provides a free community drop-off point for collected materials. For local metal recycling, you can use Robinson Recycling.
Recycling Alternatives & Resources
Shredded Paper: While we cannot recycle it, the Biology Department accepts bagged shredded paper for animal bedding! Drop it off outside of SCA 007.
Book Reuse: Instead of recycling books for material, please consider donating them to one of FranklinMedia’s book bins (located by the bookstore and inside the library) to give them a second life.
The 5 R's: Everyone can live a more sustainable lifestyle by following this hierarchy:
Reduce and Refuse
Reuse
Repair
Recycle and Repurpose
Be sure to share this information with your fellow T-Birds and anyone else visiting campus to help us keep our University of the Parks brand and keep the parks and campus beautiful.
T-Birds can learn more about campus recycling from the SUU Recycling Webpage and the SUU Sustainability Webpage.
Tags: Cedar City Campus Campus Resources Community
