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Posted April 16, 2012 | Ryan Co lins With only 17 percent of �Ը������� University’s waste currently being recycled, Melanie Knowles, sustainability manager at �Ը�������’s Facilities Planning and Operations, says there is a lot of room for improvement. This passion for sustainability led to Knowles holding her current position. “We all need to be more conscious of the products we are using: where they came from, where the waste is going, and the economic, human and environmental cost,” Knowles says. “Sustainability is not only possible, but is the only long-term option.” Below is a simple guide on recycling at �Ը�������: Rule No. 1: Know what is recyclable at �Ը������� and what is not. This handy chart shows what can and cannot be recycled. What can’t be recycled: Lids and caps, Styrofoam, plastic bags, straws and some plastics. What can be recycled: Plastics no. 1 and no. 2, like water bottles, detergent bottles and some food containers, as well as paper, cardboard and paperboard, glass, aluminum and steel cans. Tip: Anyone unsure about a plastic can look for a triangle with a “1” or “2” on the container’s bottom. How you can help: Knowles says the most common recycling contamination is food. “Bottles and containers should be emptied before going in the recycling bin,” she says. Rule No. 2: Keep recycling and trash separate! What can’t be recycled: A bag with a little bit of recycling and lots of trash. What can be recycled: A bag with a little bit of trash and mostly recycling (but �Ը������� can be charged to remove this trash, so try not to). Tip: If you don’t know what is trash or what is recycling, refer to this handy chart from Residence Services, the Office of Sustainability, and University Facilities Management. How you can help: �Ը������� uses single-stream recycling, which means recyclable materials like paper and plastics don’t need to be sorted. If you see a blue bin, you can toss any of your recyclable waste in it. Plus, �Ը������� sometimes uses split trash/recycling bins, so be aware of which side your waste is going into. Rule No. 3: Recycling in itself is not the only way to help make �Ը������� more environmentally friendly. Knowles points out that recycling is listed at the end of the famous phrase, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” “Reducing waste and using reusable items like water bottles, bags and silverware saves even more money and resources than recycling,” she says. Recycling bins are available inside and outside campus buildings, including at Risman Plaza, which means that no one needs to go far to recycle.