UCF is dedicated to excellence in sustainable campus operations. To support this goal, Facilities Operations provides conveniently located recycling receptacles across campus so that faculty, staff and students can help reduce waste that goes to local landfills. We also partner with the UCF Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives to actively improve and promote other reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle programs.
Recycling Receptacles
UCF uses single stream recycling, which means all recyclables can be placed into the same bin. Recycling bins are located throughout all building common areas and along outdoor walking paths throughout campus. We also have recycling bins located in the common areas of UCF housing communities.
Our Receptacles:
- Dual Collection Units
- Deskside Recyclers
- 33-46 gallon receptacles
- More than 100 dumpsters for recycling and landfill
- More than 320 individual totters
- More than 150 exterior trash/recycling receptables along campus walkways
| What We Recycle | What We Don’t Recycle |
| Aluminum cans (please rinse) | Contaminated Cardboard |
| Cardboard (must be clean, only pizza box tops accepted) | Food waste |
| Paper | Glass |
| Pallets | Plastic shopping bags |
| Plastics 1-7 (labeled with the recycling icon and #1-7) | Plastic cups and utensils |
| Metal | Styrofoam |
| Soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, coffee filters) |
A Note about Contamination: If food or other contaminants cannot be removed from recyclable materials, then it must be placed in the trash.
Requesting Recycling Bins
Use the online work order system to request:
- Recycling bins and service for current common area bins
- A personal recycling bin for your office.
- Note: Empty your office recycling bins in any common area recycling receptacle.
- Recycling or trash totters for end-of-the-year clean-up or project clean-up
- Roll-offs for disposal of large quantities of items or large items (chargeable to unit)
- Note: Items requiring surplus must be directed to Business Services
- Roll-offs for events (chargeable to organization)
- Pallet pick-up
- Metals recycling
Recycling Specialty Items
Batteries – Please contact UCF Environmental Health and Safety.
Furniture and Large Items
- If it is a university-owned item, it must be removed through the Surplus Property Department. Please contact your department’s Asset Coordinator to begin the removal process.
- If it is not owned by the university, consider donating the item to a local aid organization, such as Knights Pantry.
- Refrigerators (UCF or personal): If the item cannot be donated, please properly evacuate all freon prior to disposal.
Electronics and E-Waste
- If it is a university-owned item, it must be removed through the Surplus Property Department. Please contact your department’s Asset Coordinator to begin the removal process.
- If it is not owned by the university, please contact UCF Environmental Health and Safety.
Hazardous Waste – Please contact UCF Environmental Health and Safety.
Light Bulbs – Please submit a work order to request disposal.
Printer toner/cartridges – Used printer cartridges/toner should be returned to the manufacturer or distributor where they were purchased for collection.
Recycling During Move-Out
Housing and Recycling units partner with the Knights Pantry and other local aid organizations to collect donated goods such as non-perishable food items, clothing and furniture from students as they are cleaning out their campus residences during move-out. Look for more information from your housing community about donation locations at the end of the semester.
Off-Campus Students
Check with your apartment complex to see if they offer recycling services. You can also locate your county’s transfer center at the links below.
Other Resources
Donate unopened non-perishable food items to the Knights Pantry.
Contact local aid organizations (Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, thrift shops) to donate unwanted clothing, furniture or dorm décor.
For more recycling resources or ways to get involved with recycling programs on campus, please visit the UCF Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives website.