Over the past decade, TU has recycled over 22 million pounds of material, composted 2.4 million pounds of organics, and reached a 54.6% recycling rate.
Use our new waste directory to search for and discover how to properly dispose of everyday items.
Landfill waste will exist on our planet for hundreds of years, and burning trash contributes to local air pollution. There's a better option. You can lessen your impact and divert waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling on TU's campus. Be on the lookout for composting and single-stream recycling bins, in addition to specialty recycling for electronics, batteries, light bulbs and printer cartridges.
Our single stream recycling program accepts all recyclables in one container. Paper, plastic, glass, and metal all go in the same bin--just make sure you've cleaned or emptied out your bottles and cans. There are more than 5,000 single-stream recycling containers at TU.
All food scraps, napkins, and packaging labeled "compostable" or "7 PLA" can be composted at TU. Compost bins are located in all dining locations, residences halls and event venues.
Small personal electronics, batteries, printer cartridges and CFLs can be recycled in the specialty bins located in the University Union and West Village Commons. All university equipment must be discarded through Material Management.
You’ll have to toss your trash into a landfill bin if you have waste that cannot be reused, repaired, recycled or composted. Things like snack wrappers, chip bags, plastic bags and clam shells (think salad and berry containers) are destined for the landfill.
Learn how to stop and sort with Doc after you’ve finished eating!
Single stream recycling allows you to place all general recycling into one container. At TU, paper, plastic, glass and metal can be placed in one bin. All items must be clean and liquid-free. If you live off-campus, check with your local municipality for the recyclables collected in your area. You can recycle:
Placing these items in your recycling bin can contaminate single stream recycling:
You can chose to take your plastic bags to certain grocery stores to recycle. Unfortunately, plastic bags in a single stream system pose a problem at recycling facilities. They’re known as “tanglers” and get stuck in machinery, halting the recycling line. Baltimore County created a short video called to explain.
If it grows it goes! Anything that's all-natural can be composted. Look for compost bins located throughout campus. You can compost:
Compost bins can be found at all dining locations throughout campus and in select buildings. A communal bin is located in each residence hall. To start a compost collection in your building, contact the Office of Sustainability.
That depends. Dining Services and Tiger Hospitality Catering offer reusable and compostable utensils. Approved compostable utensils say either "compostable" or "PLA 7" on them. Chances are if it's from somewhere else, it needs to be landfilled.
If there isn't a compost bin available, you have to landfill your waste. If you'd like to start a compost collection in your building, contact the Office of Sustainability.
Small electronics, including cables, can be placed in green collection bins located near the information desks in West Village Commons and the universal waste station outside of the bookstore in the University Union. Contact Material Management to dispose of university equipment. Additional containers for specific items like printer cartridges, batteries, and compact fluorescent lightbulbs are placed throughout campus as well.
You can find printer cartridge bins in the following locations:
You can recycle Lithium-ion and Nickel-metal Hydride batteries. Standard alkaline batteries should be discarded in the landfill bins. You can find battery bins in the following locations:
You can find CFL bins in the following locations:
A Zero-Waste event is any event that diverts at least 90% of the waste into the recycling and composting streams.
Lucky for you, we’ve made a handy Zero-Waste Events Checklist (pdf) to help you get started!
Of course! Get in touch with your ECS Event Manager and ask them to provide bins and green compostable bags. Be sure to let guests know what is compostable, recyclable, or landfill at the start of your event.
Towson University began its recycling program more than three decades ago. We currently boast a recycling rate of more than 40 percent--surpassing the goal suggested for institutions of our size. We're not stopping here: our goal is to reach a rate of 50% by 2025.
2019
TU wins national RecycleMania Education and Awareness Award through it's inaugural Fix-It Fair event.
TU ranks 9th in RecycleMania Electronics Recycling Competition.
Tiger Pride Day becomes first Zero-Waste Event to be held in State Capital.
All campus residence hall rooms receive new blue bins.
TU achieves 43% recycling rate.
TU Dining begins strawless in efforts to prevent single use plastic waste.
TU Residential Composting Pilot begins.
All Dining Halls go trayless.
TU hosts its first Family Weekend Zero-Waste Crab Feast.
TU wins national RecycleMania Education and Awareness Award through its social media outreach campaign.
Newell Dining Hall goes trayless.
Starbucks converts to 100% compostable cups.
TU introduces Zero-Waste Events on campus.