Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University’s recycling program is a separate stream operation, which means that participants usually must separate recyclable materials at collection stations. The program is designed to serve the campus academic, office and auxiliary facilities, the on-campus student residential halls as well as the fratrnities and sororities. Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County provide recycling services to off campus residents. Information on these recycling programs may be found under Where to Recycle.
Please remember that the contents of recycling containers that are contaminated with trash or even other recyclable materials cannot be recycled and will have be taken to the local landfill. This can lead some people to the conclusion that all recycling is sent to landfills.
Traditional: Aluminum cans, Plastics, Glass, Mixed Paper
Non-Traditional: Antifreeze, Batteries, Cardboard, Cellphones & PDAs, Computers, Clothes, Electronic Storage Media, Eyeglasses and Frames, Food, Freon, Furniture, Grease, Hazardous Materials, Lamps, Motor Oil & Filters, MOVING OUT, Newspaper, Office Supplies, Organic Matter, Pallets, Peanuts for Mailing, Printer Cartridges, Scrap Metal, Surplus Materials, Techno Trash, Tin Cans
Cans should be empty and preferrably rinsed out and crushed. Pie tins and foil (balled up) may also be recycled after food is removed and rinsed off.
Final Destination: Aluminum is recycled into new cans.
Hard plastic containers (number 1 - 7) should be empty, preferrably rinsed out and caps should be removed and recycled separately. Plastic shopping and dry cleaing bags, etc may be recycled off campus at WalMart, Kroger, Food Lion or the Helathy Foods Coop. Rockbridge County Recycling accepts soft plastic of any color. Lexington and Buena Vista accept only clear soft plastics. Styrofoam is often labeled #6. It can be recyled but is not accepted locally.
Final Destination: The plastic is recycled into polar fleeces, ‘plastic wood’ and many other materials.
All colors of glass are accepted. Containers should be empty, preferrably rinsed and recycled without caps. Caps and rings may be recycled as hard plastic or scrap metal. No dishes, drinking glasses, mirrors or window or auto glass. Colors may be mixed since the glass is presently being used for fill material instead of being recycled.
Final Destination: Glass is presently being used in Rockbridge County as a construction fill material.
"Clean mixed paper" includes: printer and copier paper of any color, hard and soft back books, junk mail, newspapers, magazines, and ‘slick’ printed material. Pasteboard (cereal boxes, beer cartons, etc) may be recycled as mixed paper. Window envelopes, staples, tape and the occasional paperclip are OK. Newspaper may be recycled with mixed paper but is better recycled separately. It does not include: paper contaminated by food, metal or plastic spiral bound materials, corrugated cardboard, food containers (i.e. pizza boxes) or waxed or plastic coated paper.
Final Destination: Paper is recycled into pasteboard and many other products.
There are many other items that can be recycled or reused. Please contact recycling@wlu.edu for help reusing or recycling items not mentioned on this site or for pickup of large quantities of recyclables. You can also make use of Campus Notices, the University's internal electronic bulletin board or other means to offer the community items that you no longer need.
Antifreeze from University vehicles is recycled by the Mechanics Shop. The Rockbridge County Recycling web site lists local garages that accept anti freeze.
Final Destination: Antifreeze is refined and reused.
Rechargeable and non rechargeable batteries are accepted at Techno Trash collection sites on campus. Wet cell and lithium batteries require special handling. Please email recycling@wlu.edu for pick up of these batteries. The Facilities Management Electrical and Mechanical shops recycle emergency lighting and automobile batteries. Lowes building supply recycles rechargable batteries free of charge and automobile batteries may be recycled at auto parts stores or at Auto Recyclers in Buena Vista. Non rechargeable batteries have to be sent away for an expensive recycling process.
Final Destination: Battery acids are neutralized and the metals in the batteries are reclaimed.
Corrigated cardboard has two layers with a ribbed section in between. All packing materials and trash should be removed and the box flattened before recyling. Staples and packing tape are OK. Wet, waxed and plastic coated boxes are unacceptable.
Final Destination: Cardboard is recycled and used to create new cardboard.
Used cell phones, PDAs and other small personal electronics, chargers and other equipment can be recycled in the Techo Trash collection containers.
Final Destination: Units are refurbished for reuse or the materials are recycled.
Information Technology Services has a computer retirement policy that allow local non profits to receive useable retired equipment. Other University owned computer components are recycled in a secure, legal and environmentally benign faashion by ITS. Goodwill Industries accepts computers and other Ewaste also. Computer components EXCEPT CRT monitors owned by individuals may be recycled with Techno Trash.
Final Destination: A private company destroys the data, reuses good parts and recycles unusable parts in an environmentally responsible fashion.
Clean clothes, bed linens and curtains can be donated to the local Goodwill Industry Store (Rt. 60 east of town, 464-1117) or the Stonewall Jackson Hospital Thrift Store (11 East Nelson Street, 463-9840).
Final Destination: Items are sold to generate funds for charitable works.
All sorts of storage devices can be recycled in the Techno Trash bin. This includes: CDs, DVDs, floppy discs, audio, video and computer tapes, cassettes and jewel cases.
Final Destination: High quality plastics are recycled into various products.
Prescription and nonprescription glasses as well as cases can be recycled with Techno Trash.
Final Destination: Donated to the local Lions Club.
Uncooked food from the Elrod Commons and Evans Dining Hall is composted on campus by the Kompost Krewe for use in the Campus Garden. University Dining Services also gives Campus Kitchens food that has been prepared but not served. Non perishable food may be donated to the Rockbridge Area Food Pantry at 712 North Main Street, Lexington 463 6642. The Rockbridge Area Information Line lists more organizations that distribute food to those in need.
Freon from on campus refrigeration units is collected by the Plumbing shop.
Final Destination: Freon is reused on campus or returned to the manufacturer.
Personal furniture may be donated to the Habitat for Humanity Retail Store at 114 Walker Street, Lexington 464 4663. Pickup of materials can be arranged by contacting the resale store. Goodwill Industries at 8 Woodcote Lane, east of Lexington on Route 60 464 1117.
Final Destination: Furniture is sold to raise money for affordable housing projects in the Rockbridge area (Habitat) or to help disabled individuals (Goodwill).
Grease from deep fat fryers and grease traps is collected by an outside vendor.
Final Destination: Grease is used in the production of pet foods.
Hazardous materials are dealt with in an environmentally responsible fashion. Rockbridge County holds a household hazardous waste collection day each spring.
Final Destination: Some materials can be neutralized, some incinerated, some reclaimed and some encapsulated and then landfilled.
Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts are recycled by the Electrical Department. Projector bulbs are also recycled. CFL bulbs can be recycled free of charge at Home Depot stores.
Final Destination: Bulbs contain mercury and other materials that are recovered and reused.
Motor oil from University vehicles is recycled by the Mechanics Shop. Rockbridge County Recycling keeps a list of places to recycle used oil in the County.
Final Destination: Oil is refined and reused and the filters are recycled as scrap metal.
When you leave town recycle your unwanted posessions (clothes, furniture, books, etc) by contributing them to charity instead of throwing useable things away. Please see Leaving Lexington for more information.
Newspapers are collected by the University Store and the Leyburn and Law School libraries. Remove 'slick' colored inserts and recycle them with mixed paper. Tie bundles with jute or cotton string or put in a paper bag. Papers must be dry.
Final Destination: Newspapers are used by a local picture frame company for shipping.
Auxiliary Services should be notified when considering the disposal of University property. Campus Notices can be used to locate community members that can reuse materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Compost is made from uncooked food obtained from Dining Services and animal bedding. Wood, wood chips and leaves that are collected on campus are sometimes available from the Facilities Management Department for composting.
Final Destination: Food scraps are collected nightly by the Kompost Krew and turned into compost for front campus grounds and the Campus Garden.
Wood pallets are saved at the Facilities Management maintenance shop.
Final Destination: Available for reuse or sold for reuse.
Packing materials are collected by the University Bookstore and at the Leyburn and Law School libraries. Local stores like Pack and Mail in Lexiington will gladly accept clean packing materials.
Final Destination: Reused on campus.
Laser toner print cartridges are being collected by Project Nicaragua. You can take cartridges to ITS in Tucker Hall or leave them in the Techno Trash bins on campus. Ink jet cartridges are contibuted to the Natural Bridge Rescue Squad. Put ink jets cartridges (in plastic bags) in the Techno Trash bins.
Final Destination: Cartridges are refurbished and resold.
Metals of all types, including small appliances, wire and pipe, is collected at the Facilities Management Maintenance Shop.
Surplus materials that belong to the University are sold at auctions held on campus by Auxiliary Services.
A number of items are called Techno Trash including batteries, eyeglasses, electronic storage media, printer cartridges, cell phones and other small electronic devices. There are TT bins throughout campus - see Where to Recycle. Please email recycling@wlu.edu for pick up of large volumes of these materials.
Food cans are collected at the Marketplace, Evans Dining Hall and the sororities.
Final Destination: The cans are recycled as scrap metal.
