Frequently Asked Questions
Does NJIT Recycle?
YES! As outlined in the Vector article released in 2018, NJIT does recycle. We have "single stream" recycling, meaning all recyclables can go in any recycling bin. Read the article here to learn more about how committed NJIT is to responsibly remove campus waste.
What is recyclable?
The answer to this question varies between states, towns, and even institutions. NJIT is contracted with Waste Management, which has separate rules from the City of Newark.'s municipal disposal service.
At NJIT, the following items are recyclable: paper, metal, glass, and certain plastics (resin numbers 1,2,5)
The following items are NOT recyclable: thin plastics like shopping bags and cling wrap, items soiled with food waste, Styrofoam, chip bags, Coffee cups and straws!
At NJIT, the following items are recyclable: paper, metal, glass, and certain plastics (resin numbers 1,2,5)
The following items are NOT recyclable: thin plastics like shopping bags and cling wrap, items soiled with food waste, Styrofoam, chip bags, Coffee cups and straws!
Why aren't coffee/paper cups recyclable?
Coffee cups may seem like they are recyclable because they are made of paper, right? Paper cups actually have a plastic or wax lining that make recycling the paper very difficult. Some states have specialized recycling machinery to remove the plastic and recycle the cup, but this is certainly not the case at NJIT or even NJ.
What happens if I throw my garbage in the recycling bin?
Throwing trash in the recycling bin can contaminate the entire bag! Remember, most of the processes after bag collection are manual. If a custodian notices that the majority of the recycling bag is garbage, or covered in food waste, it will most likely be thrown out. It is not worth anyone's time to sort individual bags. The rule of thumb is: if you're not sure if its recyclable DON'T RECYCLE IT!
Why does NJIT Green compost?
Composting is a way to turn food waste into rich soil. We do this because (1) otherwise food waste would be totally useless, (2) when food waste sits in landfills, they undergo anaerobic digestion and emit greenhouse gasses, (3) collecting plate scraps creates a community awareness about everyday waste, and (4) we love helping our local gardeners! When we donate our food waste, they are getting FREE, nutrient rich soil.
Why does NJIT Green hate plastic so much?
Plastics are non-biodegradable materials that spend more time polluting the planet than actually being useful. The plastic fork you used to eat lunch was helpful for about 45 minutes; but it will spend decades degrading in a landfill. Note that plastics do break down, but they don't biodegrade. This means that the resulting compounds are just smaller plastics, called micro plastics. Compost, on the other hand, breaks down to organic materials that can be used to replenish the Earth! To learn more about micro-plastics, check out this article in the Vector.
Can I just throw my compostable food waste outside? It's biodegradable right?
Please don't! If you don't have a designated compost bin, please throw your food waste in a trash bin. Compost piles are designated areas for organic material to decompose. This takes weeks and a bit of maintenance. An apple thrown on a concrete sidewalk will take even longer to decompose and will attract pests. We always want to avoid pests in an urban setting!