Waste

Today

• In January 2018, Emory University implemented a Waste Policy to make landfill diversion easy, accessible and educational for all who live, work and learn at Emory.
• Emory Recycles, the Emory Environmental Health & Safety Office, and the Office of Information Technology collect hard to recycle materials such as light bulbs, batteries, aerosol cans, clean Styrofoam and electronic waste. Check out the map for these hard to recycle stations and e-waste page for more information.
• Emory no longer offers landfill waste containers, only compost and recycling containers, in exterior spaces on campus
• Emory’s employees service their own desk-side waste to improve proper sorting of these materials into compost and recycling bins.
• In 2021, Emory signed the “Break Free From Plastic” pledge, which commits the University to take strategic steps to reduce its consumption of single-use plastics. This historic moment resulted from the efforts of the Plastic Free Emory Project, a student organization.
• Many of Emory’s vendors are deeply committed to environmental stewardship. Recognizing the significant environmental concerns associated with electronic waste and consumables, some of them have focused on recycling of toner cartridges and responsibly handling devices at the end of their useful lives. These commitments include:
  • Collecting used toner cartridges systematically to prevent thousands of cartridges from ending up in landfills annually and reduce the carbon footprint tied to the production of new cartridges. Emory has “hard-to-recycle” stations located throughout campus where you can drop off your cartridges.
  • They refurbish, repurpose, and recycle used devices to promote a circular economy and minimize the harm done by elements like lead, mercury, and cadmium. They extract components of the device that can be reclaimed and process the rest in an environmentally friendly manner. To dispose of electronic devices, visit the Office of Information Technology’s website.
  • Foster a culture of recycling and sustainability through regular communications, training sessions, and informative materials to educate clients and users.