Recycling Program

PennWest California supports sustanability.

A message to our campus community:

PennWest California recognizes the importance for our campus to be concerned about the environment. In early 1989, in the spirit of sustainability, our first recycling program was formed. Since then we have been hard at work improving our recycling plan, purchasing equipment and working with local recycling centers to assist us in our efforts. In 2017 alone, PennWest California diverted over 400 tons of recyclables from our waste stream.

At PennWest California we recycle office paper, mixed paper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, glass, miscellaneous metals, and toner/inkjet cartridges. We use a single-stream recylcing plan; except for toner/inkjet cartridges, recyclables do not need to be sorted. A variety of recycling containers are available in all residence halls and academic buildings. These containers are easily recognizable by the a recycling label and blue liner within. All other trash as outlined in our recycling brochure is to be disposed of accordingly.

Your support is needed to continually improve the recycling effort at PennWest California as we endeavor to become a fully recycling campus. Your continued commitment will bring us closer to our goal of 100% participation as we strive to be a part of the ecological solution to minimizing our use of the world's limited resources.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or comments please call Campus Support Services at 724-938-4409 or email kanalis@calu.edu.

Sincerely,

Mike Kanalis

Our Commitment

PennWest California is committed to recycling the materials it uses in order to minimize its waste. It is the responsibility of every member of the campus community to support these efforts, which are designed to protect our environment by conserving resources and by preserving diminishing landfill space. You are urged to participate in the University's recycling program.

The recycling program encompasses three activities:

 Recycling of the Listed Recyclable Materials

  • Procurement and Use of Recycled Materials
  • Source Reduction
Guidelines

RECYCLING GUIDELINES

The University's waste vendor encourages co-mingling of many of our recyclable materials. The following items can be collected in the same recycling receptacles, either in the blue recycling containers attached to office trash cans or at the common recycling sites for the building.

RECYCLABLE OFFICE PAPER/ NEWSPRINT/TELEPHONE BOOKS

  • White or colored computer, fax, typing, copy paper
  • Envelopes - Plain, with cellophane windows ro mailing labels
  • Wrappers from reams of paper
  • Post-It Notes
  • Newspaper
  • Newspaper inserts
  • Telephone books
  • Soft-bound books.

Paper should be free of paper clips and other contaminants.

RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CANS/ BIMETALLIC CANS

  • Rinse cans

RECYCLABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS

  • Plastics numbered 1 through 7
  • Rinse containers and remove lids - both can be recycled.

RECYCLABLE GLASS CONTAINERS

  • Clear, brown, or green glass
  • Food and beverage containers only
  • Remove lids and rinse containers.

Place all of these recyclable materials in the designated recycling receptacle attached to office trash can or place in the receptacle located in the common recycling collection site for the building.

RECYCLABLE CARDBOARD BOXES

  • Any corrugated box, which is not wax coated.

Flattened cardboard boxes should be placed beside trash can.

RECYCLABLE CONFIDENTIAL OFFICE PAPER

  • White or colored computer, fax, typing, copy paper
  • Envelopes - plain, with cellophane windows or mailing labels
  • Post-it Notes

Contact the Office of Administrative Services at Ext. 4477 to make arrangements to obtain a secure, locked container to collect your confidential paper. You will receive information on arranging for removal of the contents for shredding and recycling.

RECYCLABLE TONER/ INKJET CARTRIDGES

  • All cartridges that are received with or without a return label for recycling.

Place old cartridge into the box of the replacement cartridge. Close the box and tape it. Deliver the packaged cartridge to the Storeroom.

Specialized & Non-Recylables
 

SPECIALIZED RECYCLING PROGRAMS

The office of Environmental Health and Safety has established recycling programs for specific materials that are prohibited from going to a municipal landfill. If your department generates any of the following materials, please contact the Environmental Health and Safety office at extension 4411.

GUIDELINES FOR THE HANDLING AND STORAGE OF THESE RECYCLABLE MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED.

  • Used Tires
  • Used batteries
  • Waste oil and antifreeze
  • Used film
  • Aluminum products/ scrap metal
  • Fluorescent lamps
  • PCB ballasts
  • Electronic waste
  • Oily rags

NON-RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

  • Wax coated boxes
  • Pizza boxes
  • Hard cover books
  • Blueprint paper
  • Paper towels, plates, napkins, tissues
  • Soiled or wet paper
  • Aerosol spray cans
  • Aluminum foil, pie plates, and dinner trays
  • Mirrors
  • Plastic bags
  • Styrofoam cups, food  ontainers
  • Drinking glasses

All of these items should be put into the proper trash receptacle.

Please do not put any of these items into the recycling receptacles.

Tips & Hints
 

TIPS AND HINTS

BUY RECYCLED!

The purchase and use of recycled materials create a demand for the materials generated by our recycling program. High quality materials made from recycled materials such as office paper, forms, memo pads, etc., are available.

KEEP TRASH TO A MINIMUM!

There are many ways to reduce the amount of materials that eventually become trash, such as:

  • Use double-sided printing.
  • Use email instead of paper mail.
  • Carefully select mailing lists to avoid excessive distributions.
  • Create scratch pads from paper used on one side.
  • Replace paper documents with online alternatives whenever possible.