Special Materials Recycling
In addition to mixed recycling, the university also recycles items that must be kept separate from more typical items like cans, bottles and paper. Below is a list of additional items recycled from campus.
For more information, email recycle@umd.edu.
There are many battery recycling bins on campus. View the Recycling & Waste Disposal layer on the campus map for locations. All battery types, except lead acid, can be deposited in these battery bins. Please use clear tape to cover the metal terminals of ALL batteries before placing them in a campus battery recycling bin.
Contact Environmental Affairs at envaffairs@umd.edu to dispose of lead acid batteries and/or any battery that is swollen, corroded, leaking, or burned.
Students, staff, and faculty who no longer want their bicycles are encouraged to remove them from campus property by donating it to the DOTS Bicycle Recycle program. Through Bicycle Recycle, bikes are refurbished by RecWell bike mechanics and sold to Terps at a discount at select events throughout the academic year. DOTS also works with a number of local non-profit organizations that will accept non-refurbishable bikes as donations.
Annual residence hall move-out events generate a lot of reusable and recyclable items. Carpet is an item that is generated in a very large volume. Tons of carpet are collected annually from move-out collections and recycled through Recycling and Solid Waste.
Cell phones and other small electronic devices can be recycled in campus e-waste bins. E-waste collection bins can be found at residence hall front desks, many campus IT departments, and Terrapin Tech.
Be sure that any confidential data has been erased from the phone, including contacts, pictures, and text messages prior to recycling.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and must be recycled through Environmental Affairs at envaffairs@umd.edu.
Facilities Management’s Recycling and Solid Waste Division is now taking campus construction, renovation, and demolition waste to Sun Recycling in Beltsville, Maryland. The recycling facility sorts material by commodity type and sends them to various processors for re-use. Scrap metal, wood, gypsum, and aggregates are made into usable products. Sun Recycling recycles 80% of the materials they receive at their facility and provides customers with LEED credits.
All campus dining facilities collect the cooking oil and fry grease that is generated during normal operations. This material is picked up by a company that converts the discarded oil into biofuel.
University owned equipment that has a University Asset tag or that is storing University data, MUST be cleared through Terrapin Trader.
Peripherals and other small electronic devices can be recycled through the Recycling and Solid Waste Unit.
Electronics collection bins can be found at the front desk of residence halls, many IT departments, and Terrapin Tech.
Glass cannot be placed in mixed recycling bins on campus.
Glass is collected in purple dumpsters separate from other recyclables. Use these purple receptacles to drop-off empty and clean glass jars and bottles, regardless of color. Glass bottles and jars can be recycled with any metal rings, lids, or paper labels still attached.
Only individual glass bottles and jars should go into these dumpsters - no miscellaneous glass items can be accepted. Additionally, glass should not be contained in plastic bags for recycling.
View the campus map for locations of glass recycling bins.
Individual ink and toner cartridges can be recycled in campus e-waste bins located at the front desk of residence halls and Terrapin Tech.
If your department generates a large volume of toner cartridges, email recycle@umd.edu to coordinate a pick-up. We request that many cartridges are accumulated prior to submitting a pick-up request.
Residential Facilities and the Department of Fraternity & Sorority Life replaces mattresses periodically. These mattresses are donated to local charities or recycled.
When recycled, mattresses are separated into their individual components, including fiber, wood, and metal.
The Department of Transportation and Fleet Services responsibly recycle all fluids and tires from every university vehicle. Scrap automotive parts are also recycled.
Many buildings on campus generate unwanted pallets, which are routinely collected by Recycling & Solid Waste. Good quality pallets are sent for reuse, while unusable pallets are recycled with miscellaneous wood recycling.
Food Recovery Network
The Food Recovery Network started here at UMD and has now grown into a national movement. The University of Maryland's Food Recovery Network recovers surplus food from dining halls, events, and sports games that would otherwise go to waste and donates it to homeless shelters in MD and DC. You can volunteer to help or request a recovery from your next event.
Email frn.umd@gmail.com for more information.
Campus Pantry
The Campus Pantry distributes emergency food to terps in need. Donations can be dropped off at the UMD Campus Pantry welcome desk.
Email campuspantry@umd.edu for more information.
Many campus units generate scrap metal during normal operations and these entities have been provided with “Metal Only” dumpsters.
If you have scrap metal for recycling, email recycle@umd.edu to coordinate collection.
Personal shredders should be emptied into a paper bag, stapled securely closed, with ‘shredded paper’ written on the bag. This paper bag can then be placed in any mixed recycling bin or dumpster.
Shredded paper can also go into a campus compost bin.
For bulk shredding, departments can coordinate directly with local shredding companies. Listed alphabetically are companies that have previously serviced campus:
- All-Shred
- EZ Shred
- Pro-Shred
- Shred Instead
- The Shredding Company
Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store
The Terp to Terp Campus ReUse Store, coordinated by the Department of Resident Life, was created to respond to students’ essential needs while encouraging a culture of social responsibility and reducing waste generation.
The store collects and distributes unused or gently used small appliances, cooking/kitchen items, room accessories, and school supplies donated throughout the year by students, faculty, and staff.
There is no fee associated with the use of the store, all items are free for UMD students to have and any UMD student in need of living essential items can set up an appointment to shop.
Terrapin Trader
Terrapin Trader is the University’s surplus redistribution operation that plays a major role in the reuse, redistribution, and recycling of used office furniture, lab equipment, and electronics. Through a variety of different programs, Terrapin Trader has been responsible for preventing a wide array of material from entering local landfills.
Terrapin Trader, which is open to students, staff, faculty, and the general public, sells products, accepts bids on products, and also hosts auctions.
All organic items generated by Landscape Services are collected and composted at local processing facilities. Yard trim, brush and leaves are taken to the Prince George's County compost facility.