Waste
The WPI recycling program handles paper, cardboard, plastics #1-#7 (nearly all), glass, batteries, used electronics and components, lights, ballasts, books, and surplus (bulky items like furniture). For an easy reference guide to the single stream program see this WPI Single Stream Recycling Guidelines (PDF) file. For off-campus waste information, see the Waste Management Recycling Guide and mythbusting fact sheet (PDF). E-waste bins for electronics are present in most academic buildings, ask where at the main office.
Contact WPI Department of Facilities, +1-508-831-5500 If you have any questions or concerns about the disposal of any other materials.
If you see a place that needs recycling bins, please contact green@wpi.edu with your suggestion.
Single-Stream Recycling Guidelines
Measuring Waste at WPI
44.5%
TARGET RECYCLING RATE
Project Clean Plate
42%
OF STUDENTS WASTE FOOD
0.16 lbs
WASTED PER PERSON
Project Clean Plate is typically held in A Term, and is an event where people in MOrgan Hall POD with no food waste are given raffle tickets to try to win prizes. This data was collected in B term of 2018 by the Green Team and Waste Management at the POD during the Project Clean Plate events.
Recyclemania 2020 Results
Recyclemania is a nationwide recycling competition between colleges and universities. Over 300 colleges across 43 states joined in the friendly competition this year, recycling over 48 million pounds of waste. WPI competed in three categories: Diversion, Per Capita Classic, and Food Waste. Results after a COVID-forced five-week abbreviation of the competition which typically runs for eight weeks from February 1 through March 31, showed that WPI achieved a 45% diversion rate (ranking 40th among all institutions); a Per Capita Classic rate of 9.86 pounds of recycling per person (ranking 42 among all institutions), and earned an Honorable Mention in the Food Waste Category, following the first place ranking of Stanford University.
Annual Waste Audit
In partnership with the Green Team, the annual waste audit allows WPI to see the recycling rates of buildings on campus. Last year's waste audit (2018-2019) analyzed the waste of the Campus Center.
19%
ACTUAL RECYCLING RATE
Waste Disposal at WPI
WPI attempts to divert as much waste as possible, therefore most of our trash is used to generate energy through incineration, our collected food waste is sent to a local pig farmer, unserved food is collected by the Food Recovery Network and donated, and recyclables are sent to recycling plants.
The Green Team helps organize an E-Waste Drive every year with the Office of Sustainability to divert electronics from the landfill.