What Gets Recycled?

• Batteries
• Cardboard
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)
• Computers and Electronics
• Confidential Documents
• Cooking Oil
• Food Waste
• Ink & Toner Cartridges
• Mixed paper
• Motor Oil
  
• Packing Peanuts
• Pallets
• Refrigerant
• Scrap Metal
• Shredded Documents
  
• Tires
  

Batteries

Most batteries contain hazardous constituents that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MeDEP); therefore they must be handled as Hazardous Waste.  UNE has developed a battery collection plan in order to streamline the collection process.  For your convenience we have placed several battery collection sites around both campuses.  All kinds of batteries, with the exception of automotive batteries, can be placed in any of these bins.  Recycling bins are located in the following locations:

Cardboard

On both campuses, cardboard is collected in dumpsters marked “CARDBOARD ONLY.” On the Portland Campus, there is a “Cardboard Only” dumpster behind Alexander.  On the Biddeford Campus, there are “Cardboard Only” dumpsters located near Champlain, behind the Campus Center, Stella Maris and Decary. Our waste hauler brings cardboard from the Biddeford Campus to Re-Harvest for recycling, and Portland Campus cardboard is brought to EcoMaine for recycling.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)

Fluorescent Light Bulbs have a small amount of Mercury that can be harmful if the bulbs are disposed of improperly.  However, this metal can be kept out of the environment by recycling the bulbs.  If you have a broken or burnt out bulb, you should place a workorder to have maintenance come and dispose of the bulb properly.  On campus at UNE, our Facilities Team recycles all fluorescent, halogen and metal halide bulbs safely.  If you have CFL bulbs at home that have burnt out, any hardware store that sells CFLs will likely take old ones back for recycling. 

Computers and Electronics

Because of the lead content in their glass screens, computer monitors are prohibited from being disposed of in the ordinary trash and therefore require special handling.  UNE collects all of its old computer monitors and television sets and sends them off for recycling.  Many components of these units are salvaged and recycled, including plastic casing, glass, wires and metals from circuit boards.  Old computer towers, telephones, copiers and fax machines are also included in these shipments because they contain many of the same components that can be recycled.  UNE's IT department is responsible for informing Facilities and EH&S of old equipment ready for disposal.

Confidential Documents

There are a few departments at UNE that dispose of confidential documents by placing them in special, secure bins, which are then removed, shredded, and recycled by Iron Mountain.

Cooking Oil

Cooking oil from both campuses is picked up by Baker Commodities, a company out of Massachusetts that then reuses the oil to manufacture soap, makeup and other products.

Food Waste

100% of the food waste from the Biddeford campus (300-450 pounds daily) is picked up by a local pig farmer and used to feed his pigs. This pig farmer has been collecting food waste from UNE since the University was named Saint Francis College!

Ink & Toner Cartridges

Ink and toner cartridges can be placed in bins labeled "Toner & Ink Cartridge Recycling Only" on both campuses.  The cartridges are sent to Print Recovery Concepts in Standish, ME for recycling.  Recycling bins are located on the Biddeford Campus: Decary first floor by elevators, Avila mail room, East mail room, Sokokis mail room and Facilities mail room.  A recycling bin is located on the Portland Campus on the first floor of Proctor in the recycling alcove.

Mixed paper

Noncorrugated cardboard and mixed paper can be co-mingled with the single-sort recycling materials in the green bins and toters on both campuses. 

Motor Oil

UNE recently switched to AMS Synthetic Oil in the mechanic's shop. This oil provides 3-4 times the efficiency of regular oil. As a result, UNE vehicles have their oil changed once every 25,000 miles, rather than the typical 3,000 miles.  After an oil change, the synthetic oil is collected in a 55 gallon drum and sent to Triumvirate Environmental in Lowell, MA for recycling.

Packing Peanuts

The post office in Biddeford has graciously agreed to accept packing peanuts from the UNE community. You can drop off your box or bag of peanuts during regular hours at the post office located at 100 Alfred St Biddeford, ME 04005. Peanuts should be labeled “Care Of Mark” and a post office worker should be notified of their delivery.

Pallets

Pallets are used as firewood for UNE events involving bonfires, used for building projects (such as temporary cardboard recycling bins during "move-in" weekend), or hauled away for recycling.

Refrigerants

Refrigerants are serious greenhouse gases that persist in the atmosphere for centuries, so it is very important that they be captured and reused.  Our HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technicians have been trained to recapture these gases from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners on campus before the units are recycled.  The refrigerants are then charged into other units to be reused.  Any gases that escape are quantified and added to the university's carbon footprint.

Scrap Metal

Scrap metal is collected on both campuses in a dumpster and hauled away for recycling on an as needed basis.

Shredded Documents

Shredded paper is so light and easily dispersed that the recycling facilities ask that it be contained within a plastic bag.  The bags should be packed as tightly as possible and placed in a recycling toter on campus.  At the recycling facility these bags are sorted out, opened up and emptied directly into the hopper that contains paper for recycling.

Tires

The State of Maine requires the recycling of tires.  UNE brings tires that are changed off fleet vehicles to Route One Recycling in Arundel.