Contact:  Gayle Elliott         

RECYCLING AT CSM         

The School recycles a wide variety of materials. The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department offers recycling services and operates facilities which are configured to meet the needs of specific client groups. You can reach the EHS Department at ext. 3316.

Please review the following list of recyclable materials to determine how you can contribute to the School’s recycling efforts:

  1. Chemical Reagents. The EHS Department operates the Chemical Storage and Distribution Facility (CSDF) in Coolbaugh Hall. This central facility provides users with quick access to a stock of new and recycled chemicals. Individuals and departments should not independently buy and store large quantities of reagents in academic buildings. Likewise, researchers should consider returning unused reagents to the CSDF where they will be offered to other users at no cost.  For more information click here.

  2. Household Chemicals. Jefferson County operates a facility to manage chemical waste produced in private households. Although such waste is not regulated, it still pollutes the environment and creates management problems at municipal landfills. The Jefferson County facility is located at 151 South Rooney Road, Golden. Appointments by phone are made at 303-316-6262. Many chemicals received from private citizens are offered for reuse at no cost. Other materials, such as latex paint, are retained for use by local governments.

  3. Office Paper, Newspaper, Plastic and Aluminum. Office paper, newspaper, plastic and aluminum may be recycled in campus buildings and residence halls.  The EHS Department has placed collection bins in numerous locations.  Student employees pick up recyclable materials from campus buildings and transport them to a central collection point.  Pickups are made at weekly intervals or upon request.
        Office paper includes white paper, colored paper (including fluorescent or neon colors), computer paper, letter and message paper, envelopes, FAX paper, carbonless paper (NCR), bulk mail, file folders, cardboard (small amounts), labels, stickers, carbon paper, tape, post-it notes, magazines, reports, pamphlets.  Unacceptable items are garbage, glass or plastic, paper towels and tissue, Tyvek, food wrappers, pizza boxes, Styrofoam, and phone books.
        Newspaper and plastic (#1 and #2) are collected separately.  They can be placed in bins labeled for such.
        Aluminum cans are collected in bins labeled for aluminum cans only.

  4. Cardboard. Building occupants may deliver cardboard to the paper recycling location in each building. Cardboard boxes must be broken down and placed behind the paper collection bin. Our student employees pick up the cardboard and transport it to a central collection bin which is maintained by the EHS Department.

  5. Aluminum, Newspaper, Glass and Plastic from Residence Halls. Student Life provides two multi-purpose roll-off bins for recyclable materials placed near the dormitory complex and Mines Park. The roll-off bins have separate compartments for each material. Students may transport their own recyclables from their homes to the bin. Occupants of Greek houses, Prospector Village and Mines Park also drop off recyclables at these locations.

  6. Automotive Fluids and Batteries. The Facilities Management Truck Shop accepts oil, anti-freeze and old car batteries for recycling. Facilities Management transfers these materials to the EHS Department for consolidation, storage and eventual shipment for recycling.  Upon request, the EHS Department will provide containers for waste automotive fluids at no charge.

  7. Batteries.  The EHS Department provides recycling services for alkaline, nickel cadmium, lithium, mercury and lead acid batteries.  Submit batteries for recycling using the EHS Chemical Waste Submittal Form or contact Tim Sweitzer to arrange for this service.
        Rechargeable batteries from home may be recycled through Radio Shack, The Home Depot, Meyer's How-To Hardware, and Walmart.  These local retailers participate in a program of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) by operating drop centers at these locations.  Rechargeable batteries weighing less than two pounds may be recycled at no cost.  Find more information at www.rbrc.com.

  8. Scrap Electronic Devices.  State Hazardous Waste Regulations prohibit the disposal of scrap electronic equipment in municipal solid waste landfills.  Televisions, video cassette recorders, computers, computer monitors, printers, fax machines, and cellular telephones can be recycled by the EHS Department.  Submit a Facilities Management work order to request pickup and recycling services for scrap electronic equipment.
        Consumers looking to purchase new computer systems may be eligible for a discount or rebate toward their purchase by recycling an old computer system.  Check the manufacturer's web site for additional information..

  9. Scrap Metal. Facilities Management maintains a collection area for scrap metal in the Facilities Management equipment yard.

  10. Steel Cans.  Multi-purpose roll-off bins are placed near the dormitory complex and Mines Park by Student Life.  These bins accept mixed aluminum and steel cans.  In addition, steel cans may be placed in the newspaper/plastics bins located in academic buildings and in residence halls.

  11. Phone Books. The yearly phone book exchange generates a large number of outdated phone books. Building occupants are invited to stack their old phone books beside the paper recycling station in each building. Recycle workers will pick up the books and consolidate them in a central location.

  12. Toner Cartridges. The EHS Department collects and recycles toner cartridges from copy machines and printers. Building occupants place the cartridges near the collection bins for paper and aluminum. Recycle workers pick them up during the weekly check for paper and aluminum.

  13. Refrigerants. State air quality regulations prohibit the release of ozone depleting chemicals to the environment. The EHS Department collects old refrigeration equipment. Periodically the Facilities Management HVAC Shop removes and recycles the refrigerant. Refrigerants are also extracted for recycling from building HVAC systems.

  14. Cell Phones.  The EHS Department collects and recycles used cell phones.  Recycle boxes marked specifically for used cell phones have been added to many of the existing recycle collection sites.  Recycle workers pick them up during the weekly check for paper and aluminum.