Recycling
Recycling at Murray State University is a two-part process: Your Part and Our Part. More than 11 million pounds of material have been recycled in the past decade due to the successful efforts from the University community including faculty, staff and students.
Your Part — Source Separation
Source separation means placing aluminum, plastics, white office paper, mixed paper and cardboard in their appropriate containers. Source separation both avoids contamination and streamlines recycling.
Most University buildings have a recycling station with three bins for aluminum, paper and plastics.
Most desks have a blue container for white office paper, red for mixed office paper and a neutral (tan, brown, green, etc.) for trash.
Place broken down boxes beside paper receptacles or dumpsters. If you have numerous boxes, please call Facilities Management at 270.809.4291 for removal.
Your Part — Make-A-Difference Days and Recycle Saturday
Make-A-Difference Day
The University Recycling Program provides a space quarterly during student breaks at the Roy Stewart Stadium for the Murray City Make-A-Difference Days.
Make-A-Difference Days began in 1996 as an effort to provide the Murray and Calloway County community residents a place to recycle paper, used motor oil, used eyeglasses, aluminum, glass, plastics and food staples.
Recycle Saturday
Recycle Saturday is 8 a.m.–12 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month at the North Farm recycling facility. On these recycling days, community members can bring recyclables, and employees will unload and sort the materials. Accepted materials include, paper, flattened cardboard, plastic, aluminum, and some metals. (glass is no longer accepted)
The North Farm recycling facility was a collaborative effort between the University, the county and the city, created to receive recyclable materials from all three entities.
Our Part — Maintenance, distribution, education and promotion
Facilities Management Custodial Contractor (SSC) collects the separated recyclables into identified bags and carry them to designated areas on campus.
The solid-waste handling crew of SSC then processes the materials. Recyclable paper is placed in Gaylord bulk storage box. Filled Gaylord boxes are placed on an over-the-road trailer. The solid waste crew also collects and sells aluminum cans to a nearby vendor.
SSC carries cardboard to outside dumpster areas unless it is raining. The solid-waste handling crew picks up and bails the cardboard at the Recycling Center. When a trailer is completely filled with bailed cardboard, the load is hauled to processors in the region.
SSC can also collect magazines, telephone books, textbooks and newspapers placed next to recycling containers.
The Office of Environmental Safety and Health is involved with the recycling procedures due to EPA guidelines.
Facilities Management, Business Office personnel receive and submit work orders to initiate action by the SSC staff to fill.
Additional Materials Recycled
Computer monitors, printers, keyboards, cables and CPUs
(no personal items, MSU equipment only)
Inventory Control of Procurement Services is responsible for recycling these materials.
In accordance with EPA guidelines, computer monitors may not be taken to a disposal facility. Therefore, the Grounds Division of Facilities Management works hand-in-hand with Inventory Control to assure that all computer parts are recycled.
Inventory Control will pick up used computers and their accessories. For additional information, please call 270.809.4435 during normal week day hours (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).