Q: Can Snapple bottle caps be recycled?

Yes, but there is a caveat: TAKE THE CAP OFF and throw both the cap and bottle into the Cans & Bottles recycling bin. The cap gets recycled as metal; the bottle gets recycled as glass.

Q: Can plastic plates be recycled?

Yes (for now). Yale officially recycles #1 and #2 plastics (check the bottom of the cup/plate).

Q: Do I have to rinse bottles, cans, etc.?

A little residue is not a problem (other than it might make your recycling smell). If there is a lot of residue, the workers at the recycling plant will take it off the conveyor belt and probably just throw it away, rather than taking the time to wash it. If you're putting in the effort to recycle, rinse the recyclable item if it's really dirty.

Q: Can I recycle packing materials?

Yes. In the post office, styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, and packing pillows (the air-filled plastic bags) can be put in a packing collection bin. It's similar to a Take-it or Leave-it Bin—other people can reuse your old packing materials. Containers for packing materials can be found in the post office, Malone Engineering Research Building, and the Med School TAC (coming soon).

Q: Can I buy used furniture/electronics/other items from Yale Recycling?

No. Sorry!

Q: Can Yale Recycling donate used furniture/other items to my non-profit organization?

Yes! Please see information about our SWAP (Still Worth A Penny) donation program. Contact the SWAP Coordinator at yalerecyclingexchange-owner@yahoogroups.com, or by calling the Yale Recycling Office at 203-432-6852.

Q: I was walking down the street and I saw someone throw a computer in the trash. That’s illegal, right?

Yes, it is! If you think that Yale owns the dumpster, please call our office at 203-432-6852, and give us detailed information about the location of the dumpster and the nature of the dump.

Q: I am not affiliated with Yale but I want to poster an announcement on Yale campus kiosks. Is this allowed?

Yes! Yale welcomes fliers about off-campus events on its open air “kiosks” sited around the campus. Please note that the fliers must be for events, not offers of goods and services. The fliers must be no larger than 8.5 x 11 and there may be no more than one poster per kiosk. During the summer months, fliers about non-events are welcome, e.g. sublets, goods, services, employment, etc.

Q: Do you still have a sneaker-recycling program? If so, where should I bring my used sneakers?

Yes! In conjunction with Nike and the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition, Yale Recycling collects sneakers throughout the year. We send the sneaker to Nike each summer so that they can be made into athletic surfaces such as running tracks, playgrounds and even the cushion underneath wooden basketball courts. Bring your sneakers to 330 College Street, Welch Hall basement, Yale Recycling Office. Welch is a locked building so please call to let us know that you are coming: 432-6852. If you have good quality sneakers, however, we suggest that you donate them to Salvation Army or another such re-seller so that others may use them.