Search in the box above to find out how to dispose of your items!
Leaves, grass, grass clippings, yard waste, plant
Food scraps, organic waste, food
Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides
craft supplies, art supplies,
Crayola
battery, car battery, engine battery
car tires, truck tires, tyres, vehicle tires, rubber tires
car windshield, auto glass
battery, alkaline, button cell, lithium ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, nickel zinc, aa, aaa, 9V, nine volt, C, D, coil cell, double a, triple a
wood
wood pallet, wooden pallet
wood sawdust
bicycle, bike
oil containers, motor oil, 30w 10
iron, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, tin, titanium, zinc, gold, silver, cobalt, cadmium, lithium
car oil filter, vehicle oil filter, filter
metal furniture, glass furniture, inflatable furniture, plastic furniture, wood furniture
bed
asphalt, brick, concrete
fluorescents
lightbulb, light
Light, light-emitting diode, lightbulb
light, chandelier, lamp,
LED Ballast, Fluorescent Ballast, Ballast
Floor, ceramic, terracotta, porcelain, tiling, flooring
coating, varnish
E-waste, electronic waste, computers, monitors, keyboards, computer mouse, printer, scanner, TV, television, audio equipment, dvd player, VCR, calculators, cell phone, camera, digital amera, gps system, radio, video game console,
Dirt
bottle, jar, glass bottle, glass jar, glass container
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, lime, plant food
Clothing, linen, shirt, pants, undergarments, bedding
The Landscape Recycling Center of Champaign County recycles yard trimmings and waste into compost, mulch, and soil mixes. You may be able to recycle your leaves, grass clippings, or plant materials by bringing them to the center. The city of Champaign and the city of Urbana have their own yard waste collection services. To learn more about the Champaign collection services, visit: https://champaignil.gov/public-works/find-a-service/yard-waste/ To learn more about the Urbana collections services, visit: https://www.urbanaillinois.us/residents/recycling-program-u-cycle/yard-waste-collection-schedule
The University of Illinois does not accept food waste for composting on a campus-wide scale, but there are multiple smaller initiatives around campus. Dining operations send food waste to anaerobic digestors for energy generation. If you are eating at a campus dining location, just return your plate with leftover food on it to ensure that the food waste is utilized.
At the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment, small scale composting is happening. Anyone can bring their food scraps for composting at this tumbler as long as directions are closely followed. For use guidelines, visit: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/files/project/5475/compost%20guidelines%20%281%29.pdf If the food is still edible, Project 4 Less is a Registered Student Organization that redistributes excess food to people and organizations in need. To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/Project4Less
While there are currently no centralized food waste disposal options in the community, there are multiple smaller initiatives that you can take advantage of. Some small grocery stores may accept food waste for composting. Try contacting to see if your local store has a program such as this. Additionally, you can begin your own composting in your backyard. Initiatives such as VermiCUlture, are working to provide Champaign-Urbana community members with vermicomposting equipment and education. To learn more, visit: https://www.vermiculture.eco/
Pesticides can contain harmful chemicals that can negatively impact ecosystems and humans when irresponsibly disposed of. Examples of disposal options can be found below.
The IL EPA provides a map of hazardous waste collection facilities for wastes like pesticides.
Consider donating or selling before disposing of these items. Locally, the Idea Store accepts donations of arts and crafts supplies as well as other miscellaneous items. Visit their website to learn more about the items they accept. Other charity or resale shops may accept these materials.
Locally, the Idea Store accepts donations of arts and crafts supplies. Additionally, non-profit organizations like The Crayon Initiative collect crayons to recycled and donate to children in need. Recycle Nation can tell you more about options like this.
Please contact Facilities and Services Garage.
This can be recycled, but not at U of I. Garages and automotive centers often accept old batteries when buying a new replacement.
It is illegal to dispose of these batteries in landfills.
This item can be recycled, but not at U of I. Many bike shops partner with inner tube recycling companies so that consumers can drop off innertubes at their stores for recycling. Contact local bike shops or centers to see if they are accepting them.
If the innertube is still in working condition, consider selling or donating it to community bike projects or shops. If the tube only has a small hole, it can be easily patched and repaired. Even if the innertube is not in working condition, there are plenty of craft and DIY projects that use innertubes you may be interested. A google search containing “DIY innertube project” can show you all the possibilities. This video shows seven ways to reuse the innertube within your bicycle!
The F&S Waste Transfer Station sends Construction and Demolition material to a recycling facility. Please contact the Waste Transfer Station.
Local recycling centers may accept this material.
Any tires from university vehicles will be handled by the Facilities and Services Garage.
In the state of Illinois, it is illegal to dispose of used tires in landfills. Exchange old tires when buying new ones. If this is not an option, the IL EPA lists used tire collection facilities here.
When having your vehicle windshield replaced, most companies will take the old windshield off your hands and recycle it themselves. Ask if the company replacing your vehicle's windshield recycles old windshields.
Alkaline, lithium ion, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Nickel Zinc, Small Sealed Lead Acid, AA, AAA,9V, C, D, button cell, and coin cell are recyclable. Call 2 Recycle boxes located at the University of Illinois are located on this map https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/443/map See Car Batteries for instructions on what to do with lead-acid batteries.
If the battery is rechargeable and greater than 9 Volts, it must be placed in a bag or the terminals must be taped before placing in the Call 2 Recycle Box.
If the battery is non-rechargeable and greater than 12 Volts, it must be placed in a bag or the terminals must be taped before placing in the Call 2 Recycle Box.
If the battery is a small sealed lead acid battery (SSLA/Pb), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), Lithium, or a button/Coin cell battery, it must be placed in a bag or the terminals must be taped before placing in the Call 2 Recycle Box.
For information on how to set up a Call 2 Recycle box at your building, visit https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/single-use-battery-recycling
Contact F&S Waste Transfer Station for construction and demolition waste recycling.
Consider re-use, selling, or donating before disposal.
Local recycling centers may accept bikes. The International Bicycle Fund has a list with places to donate bicycles and parts.
If your bike is broken, consider bringing it to a repair shop or the Campus Bike Center to fix it. Don’t want to bother? Try selling it or donating it before disposing. The Campaign Urbana Bike Project and Circle Cycle with Illinois Enactus accept bike donations along with other donation facilities.
The University of Illinois Waste Transfer Station accepts #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. If the container in question is either of these resin codes, place in a university recycling bin.
Both the City of Urbana and City of Champaign accept household plastics with resin codes 1-7. Make note of the container resin code and see if your city or local recycling center accepts that type of plastic for recycling.
Make sure the container is completely empty before recycling.
The University of Illinois accepts scrap metal waste for disposal. Contact the F&S Waste Transfer Station for disposal.
Contact local scrap yards and recycling facilities for recycling.
Iron, Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Nickel, Tin, Titanium, Zinc, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Cobalt, Cadmium, Lithium
Any oil filters in university vehicles will be handled by the Facilities and Services Garage.
Scrap yards and recycling facilities may accept oil filters for the metal contained in them. If the recycling center is not accepting them, non-terne filters can be disposed of in regular waste pickup while Terne-plated filters are a hazardous waste.
There are two main types of oil filters. Non-terne and Terne-plated oil filters. Terne is an alloy of tin and lead. Due to the lead content, these filters are hazardous and should be handled with care. Both types are capable of being recycled for the metal and oil in them.
A used filter can contain two to eight ounces of oil in it. This oil can be reused and should be drained before recycling the filter. For information about how to drain the oil visit: https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/50000CKP.PDF?Dockey=50000CKP.PDF
All university owned furniture should be sent to the surplus office after use.
Due to the variety of materials in a lot of furniture, recycling is very item-dependent. Check with local recycling centers to see if they will accept the item you have or parts of it (e.g. metal, glass, wood).
University Housing recycles mattresses.
If in good condition, consider re-use, selling, or donating before disposal.
The F&S Waste Transfer Station sends C&D material to a recycling facility. Contact the Waste Transfer Station for disposal.
Lamps Serviced by F&S
Lamps serviced by F&S are appropriately sorted and sent for recycling. Campus units have two options:
Lamps Not Serviced by F&S
There are two situations where lamps are not serviced by F&S, unless a work request is placed by the campus unit.
Required Procedures for Lamps Not Serviced by F&S
The Urbana Municipal Waste Department provides a “Where do I recycle it?” guide & the Champaign Municipal Waste Department provides a “Where do I recycle it?” guide that lists places to recycle these at.
No lamps, regardless of mercury content (with or without green end caps), can be placed directly in the trash. Unprotected low mercury lamps pose a hazard to waste transfer personnel and the environment.
While recycling for incandescent bulbs is possible, recycling programs for these are few and far between. These bulbs can be placed directly in the trash.
Wrap in paper or other material when placing in the trash to protect yourself and sanitation workers from broken glass.
Consider upcycling for crafts or other projects before disposing of.
Depending on the material of the item, local recycling centers may accept this for recycling.
Consider upcycling, donating, or selling before disposing of. The Habitat for Humanity and other charity stores may take this item off your hands.
Local recycling centers may accept this material for recycling.
While recycling for ceramic and porcelain tiles is possible, recycling programs for these are few and far between. These tiles can be placed directly in the trash.
If still in good condition, consider donating or selling. If shattered or broken, consider making art or crafts with them, or placing in the bottom of a planter to help with drainage.
This material cannot be recycled.
Consider donating or selling before disposal.
In the state of Illinois, certain electronic items are banned from landfills. These items include: Televisions, monitors, printers, computers, electronic keyboards, fax machines, videocassette recorders, portable digital music players, scanners, small scale servers, video game consoles, electronic mice, cable receivers, satellite receivers, and digital video disc players and recorders.
Depending on the state of the soil, Facilities and Services Sites and Grounds department will accept soil from University departments or constructions projects for use. Contact Facilities and Services and ask for Grounds at 217-333-0340 to inquire about your soil.
The Champaign County Landscape Recycling Center will accept clean soil for recycling.
Fertilizers contain excessive amounts of nutrients that when released into the environment can cause toxic algal blooms, such as the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Be sure to dispose of responsibly to protect your local waterways.
There are multiple drop off locations for clothing recycling around Champaign-Urbana. Often these recycling locations are tall metal green bins located in parking lots, like this one from The Gaia Movement. The Earth 911 recycling locator can tell you where these bins are in the Champaign-Urbana area.