Recycling
The 3Rs of the “waste hierarchy” (reduce, reuse, recycle) are so ordered because the impact on waste reduction is highest when we reduce consumption first, reduce waste further through reuse, and reserve recycling as the final step in dealing with resource management and scarcity. UNE’s recycling program represents the roots from which grew all of the University’s sustainability initiatives.
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Currently, the University disposes of approximately 561 tons of waste annually. Roughly 21% of this waste is recycled. While this is a good start, the University community is capable of increasing this recycling rate, and we look forward to partnering with campus groups to achieve this goal. The Environmental Council and Campus Services support the program, and the Sustainability Office works closely with UNE’s waste hauler and Ecomaine to recycle as much material as possible through the single-sort recycling program adopted in 2009.
Explore ways to get involved in UNE’s recycling program through work-study positions, citizenship hours, or volunteering or by joining the Environmental Council or Earth’s E.C.O.
Single Sort Recycling Systems at UNE
UNE is committed to reducing its negative impacts on the environment and managing its resources wisely. To encourage everyone to participate in this goal, a single-sort recycling program was fully implemented in 2009 on both campuses. Single-sort systems imply that most materials — paper, glass, metal, and plastic can all go in one bin. Recycling stations have been strategically located all over both campuses to ensure that recycling is an easy waste disposal option.
Color-Coded Bins
An important feature of the recycling program is the color-coded bins. The system includes a green bin for single-sort recycling, a blue bin for returnable bottles and cans (containers with a 5-cent deposit), and a gray bin for non-recyclable trash. Signs on the wall above the bins and on the lids of the containers provide information about what waste goes in each bin to ensure that everyone can be successful in helping UNE reach its environmental goals.
What Goes in the Blue Bin?
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Returnables: Bottles and Cans Labeled "ME 5 cents"
Money from returnables is reinvested into UNE’s Recycling Program.
What Goes in the Green Bin?
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Recycling: Paper, Plastic, Glass, and Metal
What Goes in the Gray Bin?
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Waste: Non-recyclable Waste and Food Scraps
Recycling FAQ
Approximate tons of waste UNE recycles annually
Percentage of UNE’s annual waste that gets recycled
gallons of food waste composted by UNE in 2022
Composting
Portland Campus for the Health Sciences
Kitchen and Dining Hall Composting
Nor'easter Cafe has been composting kitchen food scraps since 2012. Kitchen preparation food scraps are composted, and diners are asked to sort their waste into three bins: trash, recycling, and compost. Anything that was ever alive can be thrown in the compost; this includes napkins, food scraps, and compostable service ware, such as the to-go containers and paper coffee cups.
Biddeford Campus
Kitchen Composting
In January 2017 the dining hall kitchen began composting food scraps. Garbage to Garden hauls the food waste to Benson Farm in Gorham, where it is composted. In the first semester of the program, more than 16,000 gallons of food waste were composted. Prior to 2017, the food scraps from the dining hall kitchen at the Biddeford Campus went to a local pig farmer.
Residential Hall Composting
A residential composting program was rolled out in the 2017 fall semester for students on the Biddeford Campus. There is no fee for residential students, and members receive a roll of compostable bags and a key to the locked collection bins. The recycling fund covers the cost of the waste disposal. This is a great option for students who want to practice sustainable living in their residence halls. There are two collection sites located on campus: one between the gateway tunnel and Sokokis Hall and another near the basketball court behind Avila Hall. To participate in the program, contact the Sustainability Office, at 602-2507 or acariddi@svztur.com.
S.W.A.P. Shop
UNE’s S.W.A.P. (Surplus With A Purpose) Shop is a student-staffed thrift shop on the Biddeford Campus, located in Gregory Hall. Students collect gently used items and bring to the shop for resale where items are priced very low (generally $1–$5) to encourage students to shop here before considering purchasing new items.
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Thrifting has become increasingly popular, and not just for the frugal. It’s a great way to curb wasteful consumption and avoid material landing in landfills and incinerators. The shop was designed by Millennium Fellowship students and is staffed by work-study students from the Office of Sustainability. While the focus is on reducing waste, the students are also passionate about peer education regarding the harms of “fast fashion.” The shop also helps curbs waste from the move-out process, which can be considerable.
Donations are appreciated and accepted throughout the year whenever the shop is open. Hours of operation change each semester, based on student staff schedules, and notices on the S.W.A.P. shop social media account and the open sign signify when the shop is open for business.