Recycling Mistake #2: Food Waste and Containers
The What
Food waste and containers with food debris are not accepted in campus recycling bins. Plastic, metal and glass containers must be empty and clean of food debris before being recycled. Paper containers must be empty, clean and dry before being recycled.
The Why
Paper products need to be free of contamination to be recycled. Food waste can spread when products are all thrown together in a mixed recycling stream. Other perfectly good recyclables (like paper) and those contaminated materials will all end up in the landfill.
What Can You Do?
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If a takeout bag, pizza box, to-go clamshell or other single-use food container contains food debris or has food/greasy residue on it, throw it in the landfill bin.
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When possible, opt to use reusable containers for food instead of single-use containers.
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Buy only what you need and eat what you buy to avoid throwing away food.
- For off-campus living, the City of West Lafayette offers a collection site for food waste and offers countertop food waste bins to residents Monday through Friday.
