Recycling

At Catholic University, recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal in the blue bins. Catholic University uses single stream recycling, so all recyclables go into the same bin.

  • No Liquids: Remove all liquids from containers before recycling.
  • No Food: Remove all food from containers before recycling.
  • No Napkins or Towels: Never recycle wet or contaminated items.
  • No Batteries or Electronics: Never place batteries or electronics in campus recycling or trash bins.
  • No Items Smaller than 2"x2": Including but not limited to straws, plastic cutlery, loose bottle tops, and pens.

Off campus? Check out DC's waste sorting toolkit and waste sorting game.

Composting

To compost your food waste, bring it to the compost stall at the Monroe Street Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from 9 AM - 1 PM (open year round). Store your food waste in a bag in your fridge or freezer until you are able to drop it off. 

Catholic U composts food waste from the campus kitchens. All food scraps are placed in compost bins that are picked up by our hauler, Compost Crew, twice per week. 

Other Common Items

  • Batteries and Cell Phones

    Battery and cell phone recycling boxes are located at the front desk of the Nest and in the lobby of Mullen Library. These boxes are emptied regularly and sent for recycling by The Battery Network.

    Why is this important? Batteries, especially ones with lithium, can ignite and cause fires in waste compactors, trucks, and Material Recovery Facilities and Municipal Solid Waste Stations. Keep everyone safe and dispose of batteries only in designated battery collection boxes.

  • Clothing and Room Supplies

    Cardinal Closet is Catholic University’s free thrift store! Located in McMahon B02, the Closet carries all types, sizes, and styles of clothing. You can donate any clothing in good condition to the Closet year round.

    At the end of each semester, Catholic University runs a move out donation drive in residence hall laundry rooms to accept clothing and rooms supplies in good condition. Items are offered to students for free through Cardinal Closet and the annual Reuse Market every September.

  • Electronics

    Electronics should not be placed in the trash or recycling. DC hosts electronics recycling events for personally owned items in each ward throughout the year and electronics and household hazardous waste drop-offs occasionally RFK stadium.

    Any University owned electronics that are no longer needed should be returned to Asset Management.

  • Food

    Cardinal Cupboard, located in McMahon B05, is a food pantry available to all students, faculty, and staff. If you have any non-perishable items to donate, bring them directly to Cardinal Cupboard. 

    If you are planning an event and expect to have leftover food, register your event with Free Food Alert, Catholic U's campus messaging platform to redistribute leftover food after events. Enrollment is simple: register online and reach out to [email protected] with any questions. 

  • Ink and Toner

    Ink and toner cartridges should not be placed in the trash or recycling. Please send any ink and toner cartridges that need to be disposed to the Power Plant Building on campus (3590 John McCormack Road) with attention to Andrew Wolf via campus mail or hand delivery.

  • Office Supplies

    Every June, the Office of Campus Sustainability hosts an office supply swap for faculty and staff to donate items they no longer need. Every office on campus is invited to drop off items they no longer need and claim new items they do need for free. Announcements about dates and details are made in ThisWeek emails.

    During the year, if you have office supplies that are not owned by the University that you would like to part with, join the [email protected] Google group. Sign up (instructions) to receive notifications when others have items to share, and post your items to find them a new home.