Western Washington University

04/14/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/14/2025 13:50

SSC to provide interim recycling-collection services on campus

SSC to provide interim recycling-collection services on campus

April 14, 2025

Western is working with its existing Trash and Compost provider, Sanitary Services Company (SSC), to provide recycling services for campus beginning Monday, April 14. This is an urgent and necessary interim arrangement as the university further evaluates critical maintenance needs with vehicles used by its in-house Recycle Center.

The Recycle Center became part of Facilities Development and Operations (FDO) in the fall of 2024. All changes, adjustments and discussions around the FDO Recycle Center will continue to happen with the best interests of a successful, efficient, and safe university recycling program in mind. We will be meeting this month with the experienced team members and supervisory staff to address concerns and talk through this interim arrangement.

SSC will provide single stream recycling toters and dumpsters for cardboard to collect recyclable materials across campus. For single stream recycling, comingled containers and mixed paper need not be sorted separately. Sorting is done at an off-campus facility equipped with advanced technology to properly sort and separate. Single stream recycling makes sorting easier for community members, decreases operational costs, and improves worker safety.

In residence and dining halls, please place all recyclable materials except cardboard into the toters for collection. This includes plastic containers with a recycling symbol and number, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and mixed paper. Corrugated cardboard can be broken down and placed into cardboard dumpsters. located near the existing exterior sorting stations. More specific information will be provided by University Residences.

In academic buildings, please use the four-bin sorting stations where available for smaller recyclable items. Each building should have at least one 90-gallon toter provided on each floor where recycling bins can be emptied. Cardboard can be placed into sorting stations provided at the stations or larger pieces can be broken down and folded and left next to the sorting stations. Custodial or operations staff will transfer materials to the toters and dumpsters.

FDO will be communicating with building managers to successfully implement this interim program. More specific information will be provided in the coming days. FDO has also been working through arranging pickup of items currently deposited in existing blue barrels. If you have full recycling containers, please alert FDO customer service.

If you have questions, please contact your building manager. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility.