Georgia Tech
Zero Waste Resource Hub
Recycle
Recyclables should always be clean, free of food or liquid residue, or rinsed to prevent contamination.
Common Recycling
Drop off locations for the following items can be found in or around most campus buildings.
Aluminum Cans
- Accepted: Aluminum beverage cans only
- Not Accepted: Aluminum foil, silverware, or pots & pans
- Locations: Outdoor recycling sites, most campus buildings, and the East Campus main drop-off site
Corrugated Cardboard
- Accepted: Clean cardboard with a wavy middle layer
- Not Accepted: Paperboard (such as cereal boxes), pizza or food boxes full of food
- Locations: Outside most campus buildings and the East Campus main drop-off site (containers with a slit opening)
Mixed Paper & Office Paper
- Accepted Mixed Paper: magazines, newspapers, junk mail, file folders, catalogs, brochures, paperback books, sticky notes, and paperboard (such as cereal boxes). Staples and paper clips do not have to be removed.
- Not Accepted: Corrugated cardboard, facial tissue, napkins, paper cups, or paper plates
- Locations: Outdoor recycling sites, most campus buildings, and the East Campus main drop-off site
- Accepted Office Paper: printer or copy paper
- Location: Print Centers
Plastic Bottles and Containers
- Accepted: Plastic #1 (PET or PETE) or #2 (HDPE) bottles & containers; caps are OK
- Not Accepted: Plastic wrap, plastic bags, or polystyrene foam, plastic disposable containers
- Locations: Outdoor recycling sites, most campus buildings, and the East Campus main drop-off site
Technology Recycling
Drop off locations for the following items can be found in most campus buildings and main drop centers.
Ink and Toner Cartridges
- Accepted: Any brand of ink and toner cartridges purchased by Georgia Tech and personal ink and toner cartridges.
- Drop-off Locations:
- Georiga Tech Ink & Toner Cartridges: Will be picked up by Staples free of charge. Download program information (PDF).
- Personal Ink & Toner Cartridges: Drop off at any Staples store free of charge. Additional information is available on the Staples website.
E-Waste (State-Owned & Personal Property)
- Georgia Tech-Owned Accepted E-Waste: All Georgia tech electronics must be returned to the Georgia Tech IT department. If you have a Georgia Tech-owned computer or electronics to be disposed of (whether inventoried or non-inventoried) contact the Property Coordinator or IT for your department. They will fill out the proper paperwork to have your equipment picked up and taken to surplus for recycling.
- Personal Electronics: As an additional service, personal electronics can be recycled year-round. Personally owned computers and electronics can be recycled year-round at The Kendeda Building Loading Dock.
Drop-off Locations:
-
- Kendeda Building Loading Dock
- I&S O’Keefe Basement
Batteries
- Accepted: Small and medium rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries
- Drop-off locations: Campus Bookstore, Expo Hall information desk, Clough Information Desk, ORGT at CRC, and the Library Information Desk, and EH&S Building on Tuesdays (9am-12pm)
- Many offices and departments have collection boxes.
- To request a box, contact Environmental Health & Safety at batteries@gatech.edu
Fluorescent Bulbs
- Drop-off location and time: EH&S Building on Tuesdays (9am-12pm)
- For additional information, contact Environmental Health & Safety at ehsa@gatech.edu to check collection availability and schedule a drop off appointment
- Please do not mix broken bulbs with intact bulbs
Specialty Recycling
Drop off locations for the following items can be found in some main drop centers or in the Kendeda Building.
Glass Bottles
- Accepted: Bottles and jars only
- Not Accepted: Lids, windowpanes, drinking glasses, or laboratory glass
- Locations: The East Campus main drop-off site, Greek Neighborhood drop-offs, or blue carts near residence hall
Styrofoam
- Accepted: Structural foam packaging and foam coolers
- Not Accepted: Food-soiled containers, tape, labels or plastics
- Locations: EBB & IBB for lab items, Kendeda Building Loading Dock, Move-In recycling drop-off sites
Plastic Bags and Film
- Accepted: Plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap, bubble mailers, air pillows and stretchy film
- Not Accepted: Chip bags, food wrappers, cellophane, crinkly packaging or rigid plastics
- Locations: Student Center Post Office, Kendeda Building
Textiles
- Accepted: unwearable clothes or unuseable fabrics
- Please donate wearable clothes to reuse programs such as the Jackets for Jackets or the Green Goodbyes
- Locations: East Campus main drop-off site and Kendeda Building Revolving Closet (Basement Floor)
Mixed Metals
- Only Tin is accepted at East Campus main drop-off site
- Other metal recycling is collected at specific locations around campus and the West Campus Resource Recovery Yard through staff key access. If your department has large quantities of metal to recycle, contact the Office of Solid Waste Management & Recycling
Help Us Combat Recycling Contamination
Contaminants like food residue, non-recyclables, or incorrectly sorted materials make entire batches of recyclables or compost unusable and can disrupt sorting systems and increase waste processing costs. After browsing this dashboard, if you are uncertain if your item is unrecyclable, please dispose of it in the trash to avoid contamination.
Recycling Requests
Requests can be made for the following items to get recycled.
Container
- For special events, bulk offloading, and non-confidential paper
Paper Shredding
- For confidential papers only
- Not Accepted: any GTRI, ITAR, or Export Controlled Material.
East Campus Main Drop Off Recycling Center
Explore the map below to find the East Campus Main Recycling Center
Compost
Pro Tip: Keep compost in the refrigerator or freezer to avoid attracting unwanted insects.
What is Compostable?
What is Compostable?
YES. Compostable
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Meat, bones, fish products
- Pasta, bread, cereal
- Cooked foods
- Dairy products, egg shells
- Coffee grounds, filters, & tea bags (without staples)
- Paper towels and paper towel rolls
- Soiled paper food packaging
- Pizza boxes
- Muffin wrappers
- Flour and sugar bags
- Paper plates
- Candies, cookies, and cake
- Baking ingredients, herbs, spices
- Household plants (including soil)
- 100% cotton cheesecloth
- Pet food
- Items labeled BPI Certified Compostable
For more information on what is compostable, visit CompostNow
NOPE. Not Compostable
- PLASTIC (unless labeled compostable)
- Styrofoam meat trays
- Aluminum foil
- Clams, oysters, mussels (basically rocks)
- Candles, synthetic corks, and gum
- Artificial flowers and plants
- Rugs, carpets
- Cigarette butts, tobacco
- Dental floss and Q-tips
- Baby wipes
- Disposable mop sheets
- Dryer lint sheets
- Vacuum cleaner bags
- Hair, pet fur, pet waste
- Fireplace or BBQ ashes
- Recyclable materials
- Items labeled biodegradable (meaningless)
- Items labeled Oxo-Biodegradable
Navigate Compost Bins
Residence Halls
Larger composting bins are located outside of Graduate Living Center (GLC), North Avenue, Cloudman, Fulmer, and Woodruff next to the dumpsters.
To compost, students simply collect their compostable waste, either in their room or the common area kitchen, and empty it into the black compost collection bins closest to their residence hall. They can use any type of container to collect the compost waste, and those who want to use compostable containers can contact a Residence Life staff member.
Academic Buildings
- The Kendeda Building
- Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)
Dining
Front of House = You sort your compost.
Back of House = Staff sort compost behind the scenes.
Front of House Locations:
• West Village Dining Commons
• Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)
• Student Center
Back of House Locations:
• North Avenue and West Village Dining Halls: all food left on the dish returned is sorted by staff to be composted.
• Tech Catering: Handles all composting for their events in Student and Campus Event Centers or on request.
• Student Center Food Court 2nd Floor
• Kaldis Cafe
• IBB Cafe
Tech Dining and Tech Catering use primarily compostable single-use cups, utensils, plates, and bowls when not using reusable items.
Campus Event Centers
- John Lewis Student Center
- Stamps Commons
-
Exhibition Hall
- Global Learning Center
Green Forks
Our Mission:
Every year, heaps of food go to waste from catered events right here on campus. But guess what? Tech Dining, the Office of Sustainability, Campus Kitchens, and Student Life saw an opportunity—a chance to turn those leftovers into something powerful.
We’re excited to launch GREEN FORKS—a collaborative initiative involving Tech Dining, Office of Sustainability, Campus Kitchens, and Student Life.
Together, We End Insecurity and Reduce Food Waste: Tech Dining is committed make a positive impact on our community and making sure no student goes hungry on our campus.
- How It Works:
- Sign Up: Reach out to the Students’ Temporary Assistance and Resources (STAR) program. Get signed up to receive alerts.
- Food Alerts: When surplus food is available, we’ll let you know. No more hunger pangs!
No registration or prerequisites needed. Submit the GreenForks from for any and all catering leftovers. Does not have be a Tech Catering event only. It should be the event coordinator or food purchaser that completes this form to make this donation.
- Share Your Catering Leftovers:
- After your event, don’t let those extra bites go to waste! Fill out our short form to let us know about your catering leftovers.
- We’ll take care of the rest, ensuring that these surplus meals find their way to students in need.
- Email Alerts for Food Insecurity:
- Our system sends email alerts directly to students on campus who are battling food insecurity.
- Within 15-20 minutes after your event concludes, these students can visit and create their own to-go plates from the available surplus food.
- Food Safety Standards:
- If your food has been set up for more than 4 hours, it is not recommended to share with the green fork community per food safety standards.
- TCS hot foods should not be consumed if at room temperature for 4 hours. Please do not complete the form if your buffet has been set up for 4 hours or more.
Thank you for being part of this important mission! 🙌🍽️🌎
Reuse Opportunities
Green Goodbyes Thrift Store (Barnes & Noble)
Green Goodbyes Store Details
Know Before You Go:
- Store hours: Tues/Wed/Thurs: 10am – 3pm, during the fall and spring semesters. Closed during summer break and winter break.
- Location: the second floor of Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech (in the former BuzzCard Center)
- Entry to the store is first-come, first-served, with a maximum of eight students in the store at a time. Expect to wait in line during peak times.
- Be prepared to transport anything you select, including large items.
- Bring your BuzzCard to verify your enrollment status.
- The store is only open to students, but donations are accepted by all.
Donating
Items can be dropped off inside the Green Goodbyes store. For large donations, schedule your drop-off by contacting adutton3@gatech.edu.
Financial donations are also accepted. For details, contact Birchfield. Green Goodbyes does not accept food donations. Instead, non-perishable foods can be donated to
Klemis Kitchen.
Accepted Items:
We welcome donations of clean, gently used items, such as:
- Clothing in good condition
- Small appliances and household goods
Please review Georgia Tech’s Housing and Residence Life’s policies for appliances allowed in residence halls:
housing.gatech.edu/node/609.
Unaccepted Items:
Unfortunately, we cannot accept:
- Foam bedding or pillows
- Opened or perishable food
- Underwear
- Non-functioning appliances
- Broken items
Revolving Closet (Kendeda)
Revolving Closet Details
What started as a pilot program developed in collaboration with the Office of Solid Waste Management & Recycling has become a permanent feature of the building. The Revolving Closet is a Georgia Tech community resource developed in response to the textile waste created by “fast fashion” and students’ need for affordable clothing options.
The Kendeda Revolving Closet is open to the Georgia Tech community and allows anyone to take and/or donate clothes. The concept is simple: just remove your selections or hang your clean donations on the rack. Patrons can access the closet anytime during Kendeda Building hours. The Revolving Closet also has a textile recycling bin where old, damaged garments can be recycled.
Location:
The Revolving Closet is located in the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design (Basement Floor).
Store Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Jackets for Jackets (O'Keefe)
Jackets for Jackets Details
Come browse donated apparel and take home up to three items per visit, free of charge! Walk-in donations are accepted during opening hours—no appointment necessary. Jackets for Jackets is for staff only.
Store Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location:
O’Keefe Ground Floor, Office 029
Store Access:
Entry to the store is first-come, first-served, with a maximum of three items per visit.
Donating:
Gently Used or New Only
- Clothing: Pants, coats, shirts, dresses, sweaters, suits
- Facilities Uniforms
- Shoes
- Accessories: Purses, belts
- Children’s Clothing: Infant to Toddler (up to 4T)
China Service (Catering)
China Service Details
For events looking to minimize waste, Tech Catering offers reusable porcelain (china) service-ware as an alternative to disposables. This option includes delivery, setup, and service by trained staff. Internal Georgia Tech departments can use porcelain at no additional charge for events with 15 guests or fewer. For larger events, pricing is based on group size, location, and service needs.
For more information on amenities, booking, and pricing, refer to this Tech Catering Ordering Procedure Brochure or contact them at techcatering@dining.gatech.edu or 404-894-1542.
OZZI Take Out Program (Dining)
OZZI Take Out Details
The OZZI program is a sustainable initiative designed to reduce single-use disposable waste in dining facilities. By utilizing durable, reusable containers, OZZI provides an eco-friendly alternative for takeout meals. Participants can obtain a reusable OZZI container, use it for their to-go meals, and then return the used container to the dining hall. The containers are then cleaned and sanitized for reuse, creating a closed-loop system that significantly minimizes waste.
Green Labs
My Green Labs
The My Green Lab Certification program is an internationally recognized best-practice sharing and verification program. It is designed to give laboratories actionable ways to increase environmental performance (including zero waste strategies) through a continuous improvement process.
Tip Cycle Program
TipCycle is a pipette tip washing and reuse program launched by Georgia Tech faculty and staff with the goal of reducing plastic waste in laboratories.
Follow this link to the Tip Cycle website to learn more or submit a Service Inquiry Form.
Purchasing and Surplus
Sustainable Procurement Guide
Sustainable Procurement Guide Details
The Sustainable Procurement Guide is Georgia Tech’s comprehensive resource for sustainable procurement. Developed in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability and Procurement and Business Services, the guide provides considerations for purchases, product-supporting guidelines, and category-specific procurement tips.
Surplus
Surplus Marketplace (Coming Soon!)
The Office of Sustainability and Procurement and Business Services are developing a surplus marketplace system to streamline item redistribution on campus and support circular economy goals.
In the meantime, staff and faculty can schedule an appointment here to browse available items and repurpose items for their spaces.