Recycling at CU goes dual-stream

The University of Colorado at Boulder is expanding its recycling program and converting to a dual-stream system.

After a pilot program was successful at various campus locations last fall, the recycling system is being reduced to two streams — one for all paper products and one for co-mingled containers. More types of containers will be allowed, and certain paper items such as phone books and magazines that were previously collected at limited locations now can be included in all paper bins on campus.

“Switching to an expanded dual-stream system allows CU to provide campus the convenience of collecting additional materials not only at faculty and staff desks but at all central collection points,” said Edward von Bleichert, CU environmental operations manager. “We are excited to implement this next phase of the campus zero-waste plan.”

The CU recycling program was started by students in 1976 and, in part, helped earn the campus a ranking as the top "green" university in the nation by Sierra magazine last year.

Von Bleichert said the more user-friendly recycling system will help the campus capture an estimated 800 to 1,000 tons per year of additional recyclable material that now is being thrown away.

For more information on CU recycling and accepted materials visit http://recycling.colorado.edu/cu_recycling.