Single-stream recycling available at Rice

BY ARIE WILSON PASSWATERS
Rice News staff

Kermit the Frog was wrong. It is easy being green!

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A major change in recycling on campus is going to sort out any confusion when it comes to what can go in those blue bins.

Called single-stream recycling, the new initiative allows for mixed recyclables in the same bin. This means no more separating paper from plastic or soda cans from juice boxes.

Now any recycling bin on campus will accept paper, cardboard, glass bottles, plastic containers and aluminum, tin and steel cans. It doesn’t matter if it’s the desk-side bin in an office or dorm room or a larger container in a public area. All recyclable containers should be rinsed, drained and free of food or liquid before being placed in the recycling bin.

The university is also expanding the types of materials that can be recycled at Rice. In the past, only plastic No. 1 (water bottles) and plastic No. 2 (milk and detergent jugs) were accepted. Rice is now able to recycle any plastic bottle or container with the codes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7. The number appears on the bottom of plastic products inside the recycling symbol. To view items suitable for single stream, click here.

Plastic bags, polystyrene containers (plastic No. 6) and Styrofoam are not accepted.

To request a recycling bin, e-mail binrequest@rice.edu. For more information on these services, contact Richard Johnson, director of sustainability, at rrj@rice.edu or 713-348-5003.