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College of Public Health Highlights

STEPping up Sustainability

A new system aims to reduce waste and increase recycling in CPHB.

""If you've walked around the College of Public Health Building recently, you've probably noticed the large recycling/waste collection bins that have been installed on each floor. On floors 2, 3, and 4, the bin is located at the west end of the atrium. The first floor bin is located in front of the café.

The College of Public Health has an opportunity to be a campus leader in our recycling efforts. In order to achieve this goal, as well as contribute to our standing as a future LEED-certified building and help the University of Iowa achieve the sustainability targets outlined in its Vision 2020 report, we ask that you follow the new system for waste reduction and recycling in CPHB:

Central Collection Bins

The central collection bins on each floor have three designated openings: 

  1. The square hole on the left is to be used for trash and/or landfill materials. 
  2. The central circular hole is designated for single-stream recyclable materials. 
    These bins offer one-stop recycling for the following items: paper, newspaper, plastic bottles, cardboard, magazines, clean plastic food containers, aluminum and tin cans.  There is no need to sort your recyclable items.  Posters near the bins provide detailed information on what can and cannot be recycled (there are four main items that we cannot place in these single stream bins: glass, Styrofoam, plastic bags, and food waste).  View a complete list of what can be recycled. 
  3. In the coming weeks, the third and final receptacle (currently covered with blue tape) will be used to collect redeemable containers, or those bottles and cans that carry an Iowa deposit.  The College of Public Health Student Association will collect the redeemable bottles and cans, and all proceeds will go towards funding the work of the student group.

The CPHB custodial staff is responsible for emptying the central bins daily.  These are the only bins for which the custodial staff will have responsibility.  All trash and recycling from faculty and staff offices and common areas must be brought to the central bins.

Your Office

Office bins have an attachment placed/hooked to the side.  This smaller attachment is meant for trash or landfill materials.  The larger, main body of the bin is for materials recyclable under the new single-stream system.

""Faculty, staff, and students have the responsibility to empty their trash and recycling containers into the central trash bins.  The custodial crew will not be servicing individual offices and common areas.

In addition, trash bags will not be provided for office trash.  That is part of the effort to promote proper recycling – food waste and liquids should be rinsed from containers and put in recycling.

Common Areas and Classrooms

Common areas, such as departmental kitchens and student commons areas, will have trash bins for use.  However, it is up to individual departments to design the policy/schedule for delivering the trash to the central bins, as the custodial crew will not be emptying trash from these areas.

Classrooms will not have trash bins in the room. Individuduals need to take any trash and recyclables to the collection bins.  This follows a successful model being employed in academic buildings across campus, such as EPB.

Large Cardboard and Used Batteries

Break down large boxes or multiple small boxes and deliver to the first floor area by the north service entrance.  A cardboard bin will be forthcoming.

Batteries of all shapes and sizes that have been used in University-supplied equipment can be recycled.  Feel free to drop off used batteries in the labeled bin located in the CPHB mail room (coming soon).

Help the college promote recycling, and help do what's right for the environment!