Recycling

Starting Point

1. Post Harvard's Recycling Guidelines in your kitchen and mail area

  • Our Recycling Guidelines will provide your co-workers with a quick overview of all the items that can be recycled at Harvard, and withh information on how to recycle other items, such as plastic bags, packaging peanuts, cell phones, etc. (note: only for buildings serviced by Harvard Recycling)
  • Check our Recycling Fact Sheet for a quick overview of recycling tips.(note: only for buildings serviced by Harvard Recycling)
  • If your building is not serviced by Harvard Recycling, contact HGCI for information on what can be recycled.

Step it Up

recycle2. Recycle

  • Be a role model in your office; inspire others by recycling in your office and in common areas

3. Sign up for the monthly Harvard Recycling update

  • Stay in the loop about Harvard's waste reduction campaigns. Sign up for this inspirational and fun email by emailing Rob Gogan.

Blue bin4. Make sure bins are where needed

  • Do a walkthrough of your building and write down all the locations that need more bins. Request more bins from your building manager.
  • Make sure that there are more recycling bins at the catering events in your department/building.
  • Images of different recycling bins are available here.

5. Make sure bins are clearly labeled

  • Request more signs from your building manager OR download additional recycling signs and post them on or above the bins. Note, that these are only for buildings serviced by Harvard Recycling.

battery6. Set up a batteries collection area in your department.

7. Recycle cell phones, electronics, toner, ink cartridges, and cds.

  • Cell phones: AT&T, Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples and T-Mobile will all collect your cell phones for recycling OR read more about how to recycle your phone

  • Cell phones and other electronics: Give them a second life

  • Ink and toner cartridges:
    • Give empties back to the OfficeMax driver. They will take back any brand of ink or toner.   
    • Return with the pre-paid label.  Many toners have a label that will send it right back to OfficeMax or the manufacturer.     
    • Collect used toners in an OfficeMax provided toner return box and return in bulk to OfficeMax.  Available by emailing at jasongill@officemax.com.  Just put them in a mailroom or common area, fill them up, and give back to the driver.  
    • Large printer toners: have them refilled: Set up a collection area in your department and partner with Roxbury Technology for pick-up.

    More information on OfficeMax's toner and ink recycling program is available here.

  • Cds:
    • If your building uses Harvard Recycling, just put them with the electronics recycling collection.
    • Put them in a Technotrash box if your building has one.
    • Otherwise, you can send them to the CD Recycling Center.

8. Email your coworkers with a gentle reminder about what can and cannot be recycled in your building

9. Recycle by reusing- remember to give OfficeMax drivers back the reusable boxes.