What can I recycle?

• Plastic: #1 and #2 bottles, jars, and jugs,
• Plastic: #5 food containers
• Office paper, magazines, envelopes, junk mail, and newspapers
• Flattened and clean cardboard
• Metal cans

Outdoor bins

Indoor bins

Blue recycling bin with Broncos Recycle sign showing what can be recycled on campus:

If you need a new recycling bin or your recycling wasn’t picked up, please email svcreqs@boisestate.edu or call (208) 426-1409 to request assistance.

Cardboard that can be recycled:

• Flattened cardboard (remove all types of plastic)
• Pizza boxes (remove food and plastic pieces, a little grease stain is ok)
• Coffee cup cardboard sleeves

Cardboard that cannot be recycled:

• Cardboard containers coming from the fridge or freezer

Remove parchment paper, plastic risers, and leftover pizza before recycling pizza boxes. Total grease must be less than a silver dollar in size for the entire box. If the base of the pizza box is grease-stained but the lid is clean, recyclers can tear the two pieces apart to recycle the lid and discard the box bottom.

Cardboard boxes that were meant to be put in a refrigerator or freezer, such as butter boxes or frozen meal boxes, can not be recycled. These type of boxes are not just made of paper fiber. They have other materials in them to help prevent absorbing moisture while simultaneously help maintain their form, fit, and function in refrigerated and frozen environments.

Yes, you can recycle cardboard with tape or shipping labels. These types of materials are of lower concern in the cardboard material mix. However, if you are inclined to remove labels and tape, that would help improve the integrity of the cardboard recycling process.

Most plastic containers have a recycling triangle on the bottom or base with a number that will tell you what type of plastic it is.

Plastic that can be recycled:

• #1 (PET, PETE) and #2 (HDPE plastic in a jar, jug, or bottle form.
• #5 plastic food tub (i.e. typically dairy type tubs found in the refrigerator at the grocery store like butter, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, etc.)
• Keep caps or lids affixed to the plastic containers. Empty the containers.

Plastic that cannot be recycled:

• #3 (PVC, #4 (LDPE), #5 (PP) (not food tubs), #6 (PS), #7 (other)
• Plastic bags
• Plastic clamshell shape form
• Plastic cups
• Styrofoam
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic straws
• Loose caps and lids
• Plastic coffee cub lids

No.  Neither can be recycled.  Bring your own reusable cup!

Matching plastic lids are recyclable.  Put it back on the yogurt cup before recycling.

Metal foil lids are not recyclable.

Metal that can be recycled:

• Aluminum cans (i.e. soda cans) or steel cans (i.e. soup cans). Containers must be empty.

Metal that cannot be recycled:

• Random metal objects.
• Cans containing liquid/food (cans that are not empty).

Recycle your scrap metal. Use the metal scrap bin at the back of the Leatherman Peak Building.

Leatherman Peak building location

Bronco Shop in the Student Union building

Help keep our campus safe by disposing of batteries properly. Improper disposal can lead to fires and put you and others at risk. Please take acceptable batteries and cell phones to a special Call2Recycle box with a patented flame-retardant liner is available on the electronics counter of the Bronco Shop in the Student Union Building.

Batteries and cell phones accepted

• All types of cell phones and cell phone batteries regardless of size, make, model, or age
• Dry-cell single-use batteries (up to 11 lbs)
• Dry-cell rechargeable batteries (up to 11 lbs)
• Alkaline (AA, AAA) and Lithium Primary (non-rechargeable)
• 300 Wh Li-ion, such as: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Lithium-Ion (rechargeable) (Li-ion), Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Nickel Zinc (Ni-ZN)
• No damaged or recalled batteries

Hazardous waste team removal request form

Boise State collects various types of batteries and cell phones for recycling across campus with the support of the dedicated Hazardous Waste Team. All batteries and light bulbs can also be picked up at any time by submitting a Waste Removal Request Form or emailing cals@boisestate.edu or Lexee Blair at lexeeblair@boisestate.edu

Waste removal request form

Use the E-waste disposal form to dispose of all electronic e-waste, including laptops, tablets, computers, printers, servers, network equipment, desktop phones, cell phones, and related electronic accessories such as monitors, mice, keyboards, and cords. Before pick-up, please print a copy of the form submission and attach the copy to the items that need to be picked up. If you are unsure whether an item is considered e-waste, contact fixedassets@boisestate.edu for assistance.

E-waste disposal form

If you have unneeded items or are looking for additional materials, please visit the excess supplies and equipment list. This resource was created to help reduce waste, share available items, and minimize costs across our campus community.

Excess supplies / equipment website

Use the glass recycling bin behind Selway Suites.

Location of bin on campus maps

Send back to the supplier. Use the pre-paid shipping stickers that accompany the cartridge, or follow the supplier’s directions if they differ.

Read about the recycling of ink and toner cartridges

The Boise State Facilities team plays a key role in keeping usable items out of the landfill by picking up surplus property such as furniture, tools, electronics, athletic lockers, decor, art, and more. Once collected, these items are either recirculated back into the university, sold, donated, or used for trade-ins, supporting both sustainability and resource efficiency.

For surplus furniture or non-electronic equipment (no office supplies), use the inventory surplus form.