Recyling News, Tips, Locations    

Recycling News:

  • In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators. Today, this country recycles 28 percent of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.
  • While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically: 42 percent of all paper, 40 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 55 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 57 percent of all steel packaging, and 52 percent of all major appliances are now recycled. [EPA. Recycling.
  • Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 1998, 9,000 curbside programs and 12,000 recyclable drop-off centers had sprouted up across the nation. As of 1999, 480 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.
  • Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty. Oil can be recycled, re-refined and used again, reducing our reliance on imported oil.
  • Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
  • Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space .

Recycling Tips:

Always remember the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Here are some tips from the EPA's Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste to put those R's into practice:

REDUCE. Reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging. Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity.
REUSE. Consider reusable products. Maintain and repair durable products. Reuse bags, containers, and other items. Borrow, rent, or share items used infrequently. Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out.
RECYCLE. Choose recyclable products and containers and recycle them. Select products made from recycled materials. Compost yard trimmings and some food scraps.

[EPA. www.epa.gov/recycle]

Recycling Locations:

On Campus
There are two large Abitibi Paper Retriever bins on campus designated for recycling paper materials (e.g., newspaper, magazines, catalogues, office paper, mail, FLATTENED cardboard boxes, and BAGGED shredded paper).  These bins are located near

Engineering (MERC 3027)
Sea Aggie Center (SAGC 3026)
Behind the gym near the tennis courts NEW!
Between A and B dorms!
When using the Abitibi bins we ask that you keep the bin lids closed, bag shredded paper and puncture the bags to remove air.

Other paper recycling bins called HOTSPOTS are located throughout most buildings on campus.  The Physical Plant will collect paper from the HOTSPOTS twice a week.

Bins for aluminum cans are located near most snack machines and office paper bins can be found in most computer/printer rooms on campus.

Off Campus

Recycling Center (City of Galveston)
702 61st Street
(409) 741-1446

Commercial Metals Company
(aluminum, cans, scrap iron & metal, & cars)
71st and Broadway
(409) 744-3695

For More Information:

Clean Galveston

Adopt a Beach

Remarkable Recycling Facts (City of Clearwater, FL)

American Forest and Paper Association