Our Recycling Depot is open 6:30AM to 6:30PM every day. Located at 5195 Lionfish Dr., bins are labeled for cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, glass, foam plastics, and film plastics. Electronic waste is only accepted at the warehouse, located at 5179 Lionfish Dr.
Significant quantities should be brought directly to the warehouse lot during business hours; this includes campus services, local businesses, and large loads from the public.
The depot is serviced daily. Please, if you find a bin full, neatly place bagged/flattened recyclables in front or next to the appropriate container.
Academic and administrative buildings are outfitted with centralized multi-bin stations. These bins have been chosen specifically for the types and amounts of recycling that a building generates.
All academic and administrative buildings are serviced on a weekly basis. Faculty and staff are required to empty their deskside recycling bins into the nearest centralized recycle station.
Classrooms should not have recycle bins inside the space. Instead, students, faculty, and staff are asked to carry and separate their waste at the centralized recycle stations in the main hallways of most buildings.
Dining Halls and restaurants across campus are outfitted with Max-R multi-bin recycling stations that were purchased through a partnership with Student Government Association, Recycling Services, Campus Life, Sustainability, Environmental Health and Safety, and Auxiliary Services.
These special units are made from recycled milk cartons, each unit comprised of approximately 1,725 milk jugs! These special containers are found at Fisher University Union, Fisher Student Center, and Warwick Center.
There is access to recycling for all residence halls. Students can bring their recycling to one of the centralized multi-bin stations in various locations depending on the building. Typically, they are near the dumpster and trash compactor in parking lots adjacent to residence halls.
For more specific information, visit Housing & Residence Life.
Our electronic waste program accepts electronics of all types. Considered anything with a cord, that charges, or takes batteries; e-waste can be dropped off in the Warehouse lot at 5179 Lionfish Drive during normal business hours. UNCW electronics should go through Surplus. Contact EH&S for light bulbs.
Foams and films are accepted at our Public Recycling Depot located at 5195 Lionfish Dr. during depot hours (6:30AM to 6:30PM).
A specialty items center for materials like electronics, batteries, ink cartridges, writing utensils, food wrappers, oral hygiene products, disposable razors, and plastic film bags is located at the Fisher University Union near Hawk's Nest.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS, #6) and Expanded Polyethylene (PE, #2/4)
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Packing Blocks | Construction Foam |
| Coolers | Foam Play Mats |
| Craft Sheets | Sports Fingers |
| To-go Food Containers | Molded Film Wrapped Foam |
| Cups | Biodegradable Peanuts |
| Egg Cartons | |
| Meat Trays | |
| Peanuts | |
| Foam Film Packaging (extruded) | |
| Bendable Packaging (extruded) | |
| Pool Noodles |
Food containers are dry and clean. Always bag peanuts separately. Remove all stickers and tape.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE, #2) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE, #4)
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Grocery Bags | Pet Food Bags |
| Zip-top Bags | Grape Bags |
| Garbage Bags | Blister Packaging |
| Bubble Wrap | Straws |
| Shipping Air Pillows | Chip Bags* |
| Shipping Bubble Mailers | Snack Wrappers* |
| Shipping Bags | Candy Wrappers* |
| Produce Packaging and Bags | Rubber Gloves** |
| Dry Cleaning Bags | Masks** |
| Product Wrap and Packaging | Frozen Food Bags |
| Six-pack Rings | Compostable Bags |
Plastic film must be clean, dry, and bagged. If the film stretches, we accept it!
*Only accepted at Specialty Recycle Center in Fisher University Union, next to Hawk's Nest.
**Only accepted at Specialty Recycle Box in DePaolo Hall in the Student Health Center.
Rigid or hard plastics: Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET, #1), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE, #2), and Polypropylene (PP, #5).
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Bottles | Straws |
| Beverage Jugs | Chip Bags* |
| Tubs | Snack Wrappers* |
| Egg Cartons | Candy Wrappers* |
| Berry Boxes | Compostable Cups |
| Meat Trays | Compostable Food Containers |
| Liquid Soap Bottles | Compostable Bags and Cutlery |
| To-Go Containers | Cutlery |
| Spray Bottles | Frozen Food Bags |
| 5 Gallon Water Jugs | Rubber Gloves** |
| Food containers | Face Masks** |
| Produce containers | Personal Hygiene Products |
Empty and rinse your containers. Remove pumps from soap bottles. Remove cling film from tubs. Remove sprayer from spray bottles.
*Only accepted at Specialty Recycle Center in Fisher University Union, next to Hawk's Nest.
**Only accepted at Specialty Recycle Box in DePaolo Hall in the Student Health Center.
Cardboard (CB) also know as Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC)
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Corrugated CB | Contaminated CB |
| CB Boxes | Wet CB |
| Pizza Boxes | Food Covered CB |
| Shoeboxes | Grease Soaked CB |
| Paperboard Tubes | Waxed CB |
| Bulk Food Boxes |
Please break down and flatten all cardboard. Pizza boxes are free of food and heavy grease.
Mixed Paper (MP) and Sorted Office Paper (SOP)
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Office Paper | Paper Towels |
| File Folders | Tissues |
| Envelopes | Napkins |
| Paperboard | Paper Plates |
| Egg Cartons | Paper Cups |
| Paper Tubes | Compostable Food Boxes |
| Shredded Paper (bagged) | Compostable Cups |
| Softbound Books | Snack Wrappers |
| Notebook Paper | Candy Wrappers |
| Notebooks | Sticker Paper |
| Magazines | Paper Bubble Mailers |
| Newspaper | Hardback Books |
| Greeting Cards | |
| Sticky Notes | |
| Paper Bags | |
| Catalogs |
Bag your shred separately! Remove paper clips and binder clips. Separate sticky notes from office paper.
No food or drink residue allowed.
Any metals such as aluminum, tin, steel, iron, copper, and brass.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Scrap Metal | Chip Bags* |
| Drink Cans | Snack Wrappers* |
| Food Cans | Candy Wrappers* |
| Foil trays | Large Appliances |
| Aluminum/Tin Foil | Fridges |
| Aerosol Cans |
Empty and rinse your containers. Remove pumps from soap bottles.
*Only accepted at Specialty Recycle Center in Fisher University Union, next to Hawk's Nest.
Glass bottles and jars, clear and all colors accepted.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Bottles | Heat Treated Glass (Pyrex) |
| Jars | Scientific Glassware |
| Candle Jars (clean) | Mason Jars |
| Halogen Tube Lights | |
| Glass Lamp Shades and Pendant Lights | |
| Lamps and Light Bulbs | |
| Window Panes | |
| Decorative Glass and Glassware |
Empty and rinse your containers. Remove lids, to be recycled as metal.
See EH&S to dispose of UNCW owned light bulbs and halogen tube lights.
Electronic Waste is anything that charges, plugs in, takes batteries, or has a cord. Additionally, batteries and printer ink cartridges are considered E-Waste.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Computers | Fridges |
| Monitors | Stoves |
| Keyboards and Mice | Dishwashers |
| TVs | Laundry Machines |
| Stereos and Radios | Central Air Conditioning Units |
| Cell Phones | Water Heaters |
| Microwaves | Light Bulbs |
| Toasters and Toaster Ovens | Cathode Ray Tube TVs |
| Lamps (without light bulbs) | |
| Fans (without blades) | |
| Tools | |
|
Household Batteries (Alkaline, Zinc, Nickel, and Button) UNCW ONLY |
|
|
Hazardous Batteries (Lithium and Lead-Acid) UNCW ONLY |
|
| String Lights | |
| Extension Cords | |
| Cords, Cables, and Wires |
Remove all batteries from electronics. Do not stow other wastes in small appliances and electronics.
Batteries only accepted from UNCW sources. Contact EH&S for light bulbs and halogen tube lights.
Accepted from AM to PM in the Warehouse lot. Do NOT leave E-Waste in the Public Recycling Depot.
Only permitted for UNCW and UNCW Contractors.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| Pallets | Film Wrapped Molded Foam |
| Clean Wood (No Paint/Stain) | Windows and Glass |
| Nylon Strapping | |
| Paper Packaging | |
| Cardboard | |
| Styrofoam Packaging | |
| Pallet Wrap (Clean and Dry) | |
| Wiring and Electrical Units | |
| Drywall | |
| Bricks (Clean) | |
| Pipes and Tubing |
Contact Surplus and Recycling to schedule a pick-up with 72 hours notice. Drop off materials between AM and PM in the Warehouse lot. All materials must be sorted, clean, and dry.
UNCW Recycling Services
Phone: (910) 962-2549
Fax: (910) 962-7405
5195 Lionfish Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403-5648
Business Hours
Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Summer Business Hours
May 16 - Aug 12
Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.