Gonzaga University is named higher education RECYCLER OF THE YEAR by the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA).

In 2012, WSRA named Gonzaga  higher education recycler of the year because of our commitment to recycling.  The 25-30% reduction of garbage by "recycling, composting, and innovating waste reduction policies" was a major factor in receiving this reward.  The committee also acknowledged the importance of the Advisory Council on Stewardship and Sustainability (ACSS) because of its continual commitment to sustainability.  To learn more about this award click here. 

The Dos and Don'ts of Recycling at Gonzaga

Gonzaga now uses single-stream recycling! Any recyclable item (see list below) can be placed in any recycling bin, whether in a classroom, hallway, outside, or office. 

What to do with food scraps and old pizza boxes you can't recycle? Learn more about Gonzaga's composting program... 

To learn more about why recycling matters....

All objects must be clean and emptied before recycling.

Note: for faculty and staff offices, the blue recycling bin previously used just for paper products can now be used for all recyclables.  If you do not have a container, request one from Plant Services  at Customerservice@plant.gonzaga.edu.

Do Recycle....

Paper Newspaper, Printing Paper, Cups, Cartons, Magazines, Advertisements, Boxes (Shredded paper must be put in a plastic bag)	Plastic Bottles, Jars, Cups and Tubs (All plastic numbers are now accepted.  If food or beverages were in the containers make sure they are CLEAN before recycling)
Glass Bottles	Metal Cans

Don't Recycle....

Recycling and Environmental Facts

• Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 1,260 miles), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for 6 months), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space, and 60 pounds of air pollution. Trash to Cash
• Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial fleet of airplanes every 3 months. Environmental Defense Fund
• About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is just 28%. Environmental Protection Agency
• Over ½ million trees are saved each year by recycling paper in Boulder County. Eco-Cycle
• There are more roads in our National Forests than the entire U.S. Interstate Highway system. National Forest Protection Alliance
• Recycling creates 6 times as many jobs as landfilling. Colorado Recycles
• Recycling glass instead of making it from silica sand reduces mining waste by 70%, water use by 50%, and air pollution by 20%. Environmental Defense Fund
• Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to operate a TV for 3 hours. Eco-Cycle
• If we recycled all of the newspapers printed in the U.S. on a typical Sunday, we would save 550,000 trees--or about 26 million trees per year. California Department of Conservation
• The energy saved each year by steel recycling is equal to the electrical power used by 18 million homes each year - or enough energy to last Los Angeles residents for eight years. Steel Recycling Institute
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of 1,000 sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissues with 100% recycled ones, we could save: 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water. Seventh Generation Co.
• The U.S. is 5% of the world's population but uses 25% of its natural resources. Environmental Protection Agency

Why Recycle?
"The U.S. recycling industry consists of approximately 29,345 establishments, that employ over 950,000 people, generate an annual payroll of nearly $34 billion, and gross over $222 billion in annual revenues. The reuse industry employs nearly 170,000 workers in more than 26,000 establishments, supports an annual payroll of over $2.7 billion, and generates more than $14.1 billion in revenues." (wsra.net)

More Information on Recycling

• Is Recycling Worth It?
• Washington State Recycling Association
• Recycling in Your State