Skip Navigation
Search

CAMPUS OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

RECYCLING 

ABOUT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY'S RECYCLING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (R&RM) SERVICES



History
: SBU began its recycling program in 1987 in response to the New York State Solid Waste Management Act of 1988 aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced on Long Island. Initially focused on collecting paper and cardboard, the program has expanded over the years to include many more materials and products in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the impact on our natural environment.

Today’s Services: R&RM provides a variety of services to the University community including weekly collection of recyclable materials from all the residence halls and academic buildings on campus, office cleaning recycling pickups, and the recycling of materials such as woody debris and asphalt, brick, and concrete. R&RM also manages the collection of solid waste from University dumpsters, compactors and other containers.

Guiding Principles: Stony Brook University has made considerable strides to increase recycling on campus, and through adoption and implementation of the ‘Four R’s’, we can engage our Seawolf community to continue reducing our impact on the Stony Brook natural environment.

R
educe
: Initially using less conserves valuable resources.
Reuse: Purchase durable products that will last. Find new uses for items. Give an item a second life rather than throwing it away.
Recycle: Keep materials in circulation and help reduce the depletion of non-renewable resources.
Rethink: Consider how your actions impact the environment. Be a conscious and sustainability-minded consumer.

RECYCLING 101

WHAT SBU RECYCLES

image of bottles and cans

BOTTLES/CANS

Plastics #1 and #2 ONLY
Tin and steel cans
Empty aerosol containers
Shampoo/conditioner bottles
Laundry detergent containers
Aluminum foil

Please Do Not Include:
Glass bottles
Food/liquid residues
Paint cans

image of paper products

PAPER PRODUCTS

Office and colored paper
Newspapers and magazines
Catalogs and junk mail
Books and notebooks
Cardboard (please flatten)
Posters and envelopes
Cereal boxes

Please Do Not Include:
Food/liquid residues
Used coffee cups

Tissues/paper towels
Greasy pizza boxes

image of a person holding a bag of trash

EVERYTHING ELSE

All other products and waste items should be disposed of normally, for landfill collection.

This includes all glass as the University no longer recycles glass products.

HOW MUCH DOES SBU RECYCLE?

Recycling (tons) 2016 - 2017 2017 - 2018 2018 - 2019 2019 - 2020 2020 - 2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
Single stream recycling 839.28 997.50 1,640.92 1,150.10 151.05 999.56 1,466.53
Clean construction and demolition (e.g. asphalt, concrete, brick, untreated wood) 22.67 13.40 10.00 39.85 33.86 44.85 138.08
Bulk metals 144.49 286.33 309.30 316.25 246.75 281.50 282.25
Car/truck tires   4.38     2.72 3.00 8.5
Car/truck batteries   13.49     10.00    
Motor oil   2.43   1.20 3.23 2.00 22.34
Other batteries (e.g. button, lithium, nickel-cadmium) 99.35         2.83 3.45
Kitchen grease 16.66 20.47 20.86 29.78 11.25    
Other 75.04 290.40 445.23 178.35 721.52 289.39 415.68
TOTAL 1,197 1,628 2,426 1,716 1,180 1,623 2,337
Non-Office Composting (tons) 2016 - 2017 2017 - 2018 2018 - 2019 2019 - 2020 2020 - 2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
Food scraps 15.30   9.35 344.00 8.75 3.4 7.1
Yard waste/wood chips 3,000.00 3,000.00   3,000.00   3,000.00 3,000.00
Soiled paper (e.g. wet, dirty paper not suitable for recycling including paper towels)     3,000.00        
TOTAL 3,015 3,000 3,009 3,344 9 3,003 3,007

WHERE DO SBU RECYCLABLES GO?

Plastics: Recycled into items like clothes, carpets, food trays, bags, motor oil and plastic lumber

Metal cans and scrap metal: Sent to smelters, melted down and made into new products such as aluminum cans, car parts, etc.

Mixed paper and cardboard: Turned into new paper products like notebooks, cardboard boxes, and more

Clothing: Given to people in need, turned into cleaning rags, or transformed into fibers that are used for mattress fillings or high-grade paper

Asphalt/brick/concrete: Grinded into stone packs and then used to build/maintain campus roads and parking lots

Dirt/topsoil: Reapplied to areas in need on campus 

Woody debris: Leaves, tree limbs, fallen trees, and some spec pallets are collected, grinded, and reapplied as campus mulch

Toner cartridges: Sorted and reused if possible, otherwise turned into new plastic products

Oils: Spec oil is burned as fuel, or used in making asphalt, while clean oil is reconditioned and sold as fuel

RECYCLING EVENTS ON CAMPUS

EARTHSTOCK

This week-long, campus-wide event is celebrated each year around the time of Earth Day. Symposiums, lectures, experiences and lots of fun take place across the University for students, faculty and staff. 

 

SEE THE EARTHSTOCK WEBSITE
 

RECYCLEMANIA

This annual, eight-week-long competition between Colleges and Universities across the U.S. and Canada identifies which institution can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most waste while also committing to sustainability.

 

VISIT THE RECYCLEMANIA WESBITE
 

MOVE OUT/FREECYCLE

During Spring move-outs, resident students are invited to collect non-perishable food items, clothing, appliances, books and dorm items that they no longer need. Clothing and food are donated to local organizations, while the other items are used during Freecycle. During Fall move-ins, incoming sudents are able to obtain previously donated items, for free, as part of the Freecycle program.

*please note that this program has been paused 

 

 

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY

SBU celebrates nationally-recognized America Recycles Day each year by hosting events on campus to educate, beautify and clean our campus community.

 

SEE THE AMERICA RECYCLES DAY WEBSITE
 

 

RECYCLING FAQS

 

RECYCLING RECEPTACLE/BIN MAP