Philadelphia University’s Recycling Program

Philadelphia University takes great pride in our campus – from neatly manicured lawns and landscapes to maintaining buildings of myriad styles and ages that provide a pastoral backdrop to learning and working. To this end, we strongly urge all members of our University Community to reduce, reuse and recycle materials no longer needed. In exercising sustainable practices, our campus remains pristine and we become partners in responsible management of the Earth’s resources. Philadelphia University currently recycles the following:

- Paper: Office, Copy and Computer, Carbonless Forms, Envelopes,
   Newspapers, Magazines, Junk Mail
- Containers made from the following: Glass, Plastic (#1 and #2), Tin, 
   Aluminum
- Cardboard
 -Leaves
- Cooking Oil

The University's methodology for collecting these materials is meant to be as simple as possible.

Separate recycling bins marked for paper or containers (bottles, etc) are placed throughout residence hall, office, dining and academic buildings. Typically these bins and cans are located in the common spaces of campus buildings and are either BLUE or GREEN.

What goes in Recycle bins marked for cans & bottles?

The following can be mixed in the bin that should be lined with a CLEAR bag. It is sorted after collection at a recycling facility:

Glass, plastic, steel and aluminum

Glass bottles and jars – clear and colored

Plastic Containers marked # 1 and # 2

What goes in Recycle bins marked for cardboard & paper?

The following can be placed loosely or in CLEAR bags in the bin. It is sorted after collection at a recycling facility:

Corrugated Cardboard

Office Paper

Copier Paper

Computer Paper

Carbonless Forms

Envelopes

Newspapers

Magazines

Junk Mail

Where do all of the CLEAR bags go?

Items in clear bags will be taken from the bins and deposited into outside BLUE dumpsters.

What can I deposit directly into an outside blue dumpster?

The blue dumpsters on campus are for the following:

-Clear bagged beverage containers made of aluminum, tin, glass. Or plastic beverage containers marked 1 or 2.  They can all  be co-mingled.

-Clear bagged paper products as listed above.

-Loose paper products as listed above

-Loose cardboard, but it must be flattened.

The recycling hauler will segregate the bagged co-mingled material from the paper products.

Some blue hoppers may even have segregation ports.

DO NOT PUT ANY DARK BAGS INTO THE BLUE DUMPSTERS.

Where do the recyclables go?

Philadelphia University currently contracts with JP Mascaro for recycling and trash hauling.

Here is a link to their recycling facility

http://www.jpmascaro.com/HTML/recyclego.htm

What items can NOT be recycled?

Thermal FAX paper

Carbon Paper

Food packages or Pizza boxes

Red Bag waste

Plastic Shopping Bags

What goes into card board compactors?

Cardboard ONLY (Please note that these compactors can be operated by qualified personnel ONLY)

How does leaf and yard waste get recycled?

Philadelphia University’s grounds crew and grounds subcontractors collect all leaf and yard waste in a staging area at the rear of the Ravenhill Campus. This material is then segregated into special roll-off containers collected by our waste hauler, who takes them to an off campus processing facility. 

What happens to the yard waste?

Philadelphia University also contracts with JP Mascaro for this recycling endeavor. They process and combine it with other material such as pre-processed sewage sludge to make high quality compost.

Here is a link to their compost recycling operation:

http://jpmascaro.com/HTML/compost.html

How does cooking oil get recycled?

Dining Service collects all cooking oil into special double walled containers that are located behind each dining facility. This oil is then collected by a specialty firm for purification and re-processing.

What happens to the cooking oil?

The company Philadelphia University currently uses to reprocess cooking oil is “Greaseland”. Here is a link to their company information:

http://www.mcmua.com/facilitydetail.asp?FacilityID=106

What goes into the outside GREEN dumpsters?

Trash ONLY ! Trash should be contained in black bags.

What goes into the GREEN Trash compactors?

Trash. Philadelphia University precompacts the majority of its trash that is collected by the staffs of Housekeeping and Dining Service. These departments have trained personnel to operate the trash compactors. By doing this, required landfill space is minimized.

How do I request a recycle container for a certain area?

Please utilize our work order system at the following link:

http://plantreq.philau.edu/home.html

What happens when trash or food is disposed in a recycling bin or container?

This is the largest hindrance to recycling. This wastes the effort of the many people who are environmentally conscious. The entire contents need to be removed and rebagged as garbage now that the recyclables are considered tainted.

Why doesn't Philadelphia University have exterior recycling receptacles?

The University continues the observed model of Fairmount Park onto our campus which places convenient trash containers throughout the grounds and provides recycling containers at points of destination. This policy reduces clutter, cross contamination, and focuses on the greater environmental priority which is to reduce litter that could make its way into the environment and especially the Wissahickon watershed. We encourage all to use the available exterior refuse and smoking receptacles appropriately and further ask environmentally conscious people to recycle at the nearest building site.

How much does Philadelphia University recycle?

We recycle tons! Please click on the following link for current statistics: http://philau.edu/plant/statistics.html

Who do I contact if I have any questions?

Please send an email to Ben Suplick, P.E., Director of Physical Plant suplickb@philau.edu


Click on one of the links to the left to learn more about recycling at Philadelphia University and what you can do to make our various programs successful!

Send e-mail to Physical Plant: plant@PhilaU.edu