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Waste Disposal Guide

As a reminder, always ask yourself first: can I avoid producing waste? We encourage you to challenge yourself to keep this question in mind when buying products, planning events, or going about other daily activities! When you do have waste, we can help you place it in the correct stream. Our goal is to divert as much waste away from incineration as possible, and instead into compost or recycling. 

Use the categories below or CTRL+F (on a PC), ⌘F (on a Mac), Share -> Find on Page (on iPhone), or More -> Find in Page (on Android) to search our list of items and find out how to dispose of these commonly used products. We are working to make this list as comprehensive and useful as we can. Don't see a particular item listed below? Let us know by filling out this form!

Campus Food and Dining

Aluminum Can

Aluminum Can

Recycle.

Baked Goods Wrapping

Baked Goods Wrapping

Trash.

Beef Snack Stick

Beef Snack Stick

Compost: Food scraps.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Black Takeout Container

Black Takeout Container

Recycle: Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Candy Wrappers

Candy Wrappers

Trash.

Cereal Cup

Cereal Cup

Recycle: Cup

Trash: Lid

Chobani Flip Yogurt Container

Chobani Flip Yogurt Container

Trash.

chopsticks

Chopsticks

Compost: Wooden chopsticks and paper wrapping.

Trash: If chopsticks or wrapping are made of plastic.

Coffee Pod

Coffee Pod

Trash.

coffee stirrer

Coffee Stirrer

Compost: If stirrer is made of wood.

                                                          Trash: If stirrer is made of plastic.

Cold Cup (from Campus)

Cold Cup (from Campus)

Compost: if item says ECOWARE, ECOCONTAINER or GREENWARE.

Condiment Cup

Condiment Cup

Compost.

Compostable Clamshell

Compostable Clamshell

Compost.

condiment packets

Condiment Packets

Label: Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonaise, Soy Sauce, Duck Sauce, Honey

Trash.

Cookie and Cracker Wrappers

Cookie and Cracker Wrappers

Trash.

Creamer Cup

Creamer Cup

Trash.

Granola Bar Wrapper

Granola Bar Wrapper

Trash.

5 Gum Box

Gum Box

Recycle: Clear plastic container.

Trash: Waxy paper lining and gum wrappers.

Gum Wrapper

Gum Wrapper

Trash.

Honey Bottle

Honey Bottle

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Hot Chocolate Packet

Hot Chocolate Packet

Trash.

Hot Cup (from Campus)

Hot Cup (from Campus)

Compost: if item says ECOWARE, ECOCONTAINER or GREENWARE.

 

Ice Cream Pint

Ice Cream Pint

Recycle: If pint is clean and has no wax lining.

Trash: If pint interior has wax lining.

Iced Tea Bottle

Iced Tea Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or #1, #2, or #5 plastic

Indian Food Container

Indian Food Container

Recycle: Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Mac and Cheese Cup

Mac and Cheese Cup

Trash.

Mush Oatmeal Cups

Mush Oatmeal Cups

Recycle: Aluminum lid and plastic cup if made of plastic #1, #2, or #5

napkins

Napkins

Compost.

Paper Bowl

Paper Bowl

Trash: If bowl has wax liner.

Paper Plates

Paper Plates

Compost: If plate is clean and has no waxy coating.

Trash: If plate is dirty and/or has waxy coating

Paper Straw

Paper Straw

Compost.

Peanut Butter/Nutella Jar

Peanut Butter/Nutella Jar

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Plastic Cup

Plastic Cup

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, or #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

Plastic Drink Bottle

Plastic Drink Bottle

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

plastic container and lid

Plastic Container and Lid

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.  

Trash: If item is unlabeled or made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Plastic Utensils

Plastic Utensils

Trash.

Popcorn

Popcorn

Trash.

Pringles Container

Pringles Container

Trash.

Protein Bar Wrapper

Protein Bar Wrapper

Trash.

Ramen

Ramen

Recycle: Plastic bowl if made of clear or white #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Trash: Plastic wrapping, peel-away lid, and/or styrofoam container.

Roasted Seaweed Packaging

Roasted Seaweed Packaging

Trash.

Snack Bag

Snack Bag

Trash.

Snack Wrapper

Snack Wrapper

Trash.

Soda Bottle

Soda Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Styrofoam Cup

Styrofoam Cup

Trash.

Sugar, Salt, and Pepper Packets

Sugar, Salt, and Pepper Packets

Compost: If made of paper.

Trash: If made of plastic.

Sushi Container

Sushi Container

Trash.

takeout lunch container

Takeout Lunch Container

Recycle: If item is made of paper or provided by the College.

Trash: If item is made of plastic.

Tastykake

Tastykake

Compost: Food scraps.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Tea Bag

Tea Bag

Trash: Wrapping and staple.

Compost: Tea bag (if it's not made of plastic or cloth). 

Trü Frü

Trü Frü

Recycle: If pint is clean and has no wax lining.

Trash: If pint interior has wax lining.

wooden utensils

Wooden Utensils

Compost.

White Takeout Container

White Takeout Container

Recycle: White plastic base and clear lid.

Yogurt Cup

Yogurt Cup

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Off-Campus Food and Dining

Boba Cup

Boba Cup

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, or #5.

Dunkin Donuts Cold Cup

Dunkin Donuts Cold Cup

Recycle: Cup.

Trash: Straw.

Dunkin Donuts Hot Cup

Dunkin Donuts Hot Cup

Trash.

Hobbs Cold Cup

Hobbs Cold Cup

Recycle.

Hobbs Hot Cup

Hobbs Hot Cup

Recycle: Cardboard sleeve.

Trash: Lid and cup.

 

Plastic Bag

Plastic Bag

Trash.

Red Solo Cup

Red Solo Cup

Trash.

Swarthmore Co-Op Prepared Food Container

Swarthmore Co-Op Prepared Food Container

Recycle:  Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Swarthmore Co-Op Sushi Container

Swarthmore Co-Op Sushi Container

Trash.

Personal Hygiene

band-aid

Band-Aid

Trash: If used.

ice pack

Cold Pack / Ice Pack

Pour water in sink. 

Trash: wrapper.

contact case

Contact Lenses & Container

Trash: Used contact lenses and packaging. 

Recycle: Container if item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

cough medicine

Cough Syrup

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

cotton balls

Cotton Balls

Trash.

COVID-19 At-Home Test

COVID-19 At-Home Test

Trash.

deodorant

Deodorant

Recycle: If made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

disposable razor blade

Disposable and Reusable Razor Blades

Trash.

eyedrops / nose drops

Eyedrops / Nosedrops

Recycle If item is made of glass or plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

face cleanser

Face Cleanser

Recycle: If made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

face mask

Face Mask

Trash.

foundation

Foundation

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

gauze pad

Gauze / Bandage

Trash.

Glass Containers for Makeup/Skincare

Glass Containers for Makeup/Skincare

Recycle.

gloves

Gloves

Trash.

Hand warmers

Hand Warmers

Trash.

lipstick and gloss

Lipstick and Gloss

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

lotion

Lotion

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

makeup brushes

Makeup Brushes

Trash: If used.

makeup removing pads

Makeup Removing Pads

Trash.

mascara

Mascara

Trash.

medicine container

Medicine Container

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Medicine Pill Tabs

Medicine Pill Tabs

Trash.

menstral pad

Menstrual Pad

Trash.

mouthwash bottle

Mouthwash

Recycle If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

nail clipper

Nail Clipper

Reuse.

ointment

Ointment Cream / Gel

Trash.

Q-tips / Cotton Swabs

Q-tips / Cotton Swabs

Trash.

sexual health products

Sexual Health and Safety Products

Label: Condoms, Lube, Dental Dam, Birth Control Pills, Pregnancy Test

Trash.

shampoo

Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash Bottles

Recycle: If item is made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastc #3, #4, #6.

bar of soap and paper packaging

Soap Bar

Recycle: Paper packaging.   Trash: Bar of soap. 

Donate: To Worthmore if new and unopened.

sterilizing wipes

Sterilizing Wipes

Trash.

tampon

Tampon

Recycle: Applicator and packaging (if provided by the College)

Trash: Tampon.

thermometer

Thermometer

Trash: If used or broken. 

Donate: To Worthmore if unused and unopened.

toilet paper roll

Toilet Paper Roll

Recycle.

toothpaste

Toothpaste

Recycle: Cardboard box and tube if made of  plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If tube is made of plastc #3, #4, #6.

travel tissue bag

Travel Tissue Bag

Trash.

vaseline

Vaseline

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5. 

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

vitamin bottle

Vitamin Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

Residential and Office Life

aerosol cans

Aerosol Cans

If full/partially full: Contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

If empty: Recycle: Aerosol can. Trash: Plastic lid.

aluminum foil

Aluminum Foil

Recycle.

Bread Bag

Bread Bag

Trash.

Biscuit Tin

Biscuit Tin

Trash.

cardboard box

Cardboard Box

Recycle.

Cardboard Food Packaging

Cardboard Food Packaging

Recycle.

Chocolate Bar Wrapper

Chocolate Bar and Candy Wrappers

Recycle: If wrapper is clean and made of paper or foil.

Trash: If wrapper is made of plastic.

Clothes

Clothing

Donate: If in good condition.

 

coffee bag

Coffee Bag

Trash.

Coffee Filters

Coffee Filters

Compost Filter.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Construction Paper

Construction Paper

Recycle: If clean and free of contaminants (glue, tape, glitter, etc.)

Dish Soap

Dish Soap

Recycle: If bottle is made of glass or of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Dryer Lint

Dryer Lint

Trash.

Dryer Sheets

Dryer Sheets

Trash.

Envelope

Envelope

Recycle: If envelope does not have plastic seal.

Trash: If envelope has plastic seal.

electronic waste

Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

Label: Ink Cartridges, Batteries, Electronic Devices

View the Electronic Waste Disposal Guide for more information.

Foil baking dish

Foil Baking Dish

Compost: Food scraps.

Recycle: Baking dish.

k-cup

K-Cup

Trash.

Laundry Detergent Jug

Laundry Detergent Jug

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Dontate: To Worthmore if new.

Laundry Detergent Pods

Laundry Detergent Pods

Trash: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

liquid soap dispenser

Liquid Soap

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4,or #6, or black plastic. 

Magazine

Magazine

Recycle.

Milk Carton

Milk Carton

Recycle.

Newspaper

Newspaper

Recycle.

notebook

Notebook

Recycle: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

packing paper

Packing Paper

Recycle.

padded envelope

Padded Envelope

Trash.

paper bag

Paper Bag

Recycle.

paper clips

Paper Clips

Recycle.

paper towel

Paper Towel

Compost.

Trash: If sprayed with cleaners or chemicals.

plastic wrap

Plastic Wrap

Trash.

Postcards and Greeting Cards

Postcards and Greeting Cards

Recycle.

Poster

Poster

Donate: to Worthmore.

Printer Paper

Printer Paper

Compost or Recycle.

Scrap Paper

Scrap Paper

Compost or Recycle.

Shredded Paper

Shredded Paper

Compost or Recycle.

staples

Staples

Trash.

sticky notes

Sticky Notes

Label: Post-It Notes

Recycle.

Soup and Veggie Cans

Soup and Vegetable Cans

Recycle

Soup Carton

Soup Carton

Recycle.

Sponge

Sponge

Trash: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

Tissue Box

Tissue Box

Trash: Plastic wrapping and used tissues.

Recycle: Cardboard.

Wrapping paper

Wrapping Paper

Trash.

ziplock bags

Ziplock Bags

Trash.