Waste
Important Update: New Community Recycling Drop-off Site on Campus
A new community recycling drop-off is now open at 17th & Burt on Creighton's campus! Campus community members are encouraged to drop off any single stream recyclable items in addition to glass at the new community recycling drop-off.
Single Stream Recycling on Campus is Available
Creighton University is a single-stream recycling campus. This means paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal can all commingle in any recycling bin on campus. We work with First Star Recycling for our recycling needs.
If you have a recyclable item from the list below, please place the empty, clean item in any bin marked for recycling. We have a variety of recycling bins on campus. Some may say they only take cans, paper, or plastic, but do not be deceived! You can place any recyclable item in any type of recycling bin.
Please do not place glass in campus single stream recycling bins. Glass can be recycled at the nearby community recycling drop off site located on campus at 17th and Burt between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (April through August) and 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (September through March).
We have recycling posters with information about recycling on campus. If you would like posters for your area, please contact Becky Crowell with the number you would like. We will happily deliver the posters to your office! Please note: Posters are 11" x 17".
Creighton's Facilities Management is responsible for the University's recycling program. Visit Creighton's Custodial Services page for more information.
Visit Wasteline for more drop-off locations and information about City of Omaha recycling.
If you still have questions about what can and cannot be recycled you may visit First Star Recycling's Guide.
Recycling 101
Clean Paper
Including:
- Office/notebook paper
- Magazines
- Newspaper
Metal
Including:
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Aluminum foil
Plastic
#1, #2, #3, #5
Including plastic cups/lids
Cardboard
Including flattened boxes
Additional Cardboard Locations
Extra-large cardboard boxes can be recycled in two locations: 1. On the first floor of Creighton Hall, near the vending machines and ; 2. Outside, to the west of Skutt Student Center. Please break down boxes before you place them in a bin, thank you!
Items below cannot go into the bins at the community recycling drop-off location. When possible, please reuse items such as plastic bags. If items cannot be reused, please place them in a landfill receptacle.
- Plastic bags/wrapping
- Candy/snack wrappers
- Plastic utensils
- Condiment packets
- Chip bags
- Styrofoam
- Batteries
- Wires
- Pens/pencils
- Straws
- Paper cups
- Shipping pouches
- Toothpaste tubes
- Food scraps
(including meat, bones, and dairy) - Paper products
(including dirty paper towels, paper food containers, and greasy cardboard) - Coffee grounds, tea bags, and wood
In August 2020, the Office of Sustainability Programs, Creighton Students Union, and the Division of Housing and Auxiliary Services partnered to reduce Creighton's landfill footprint via a post-consumer compost initiative.
How do I use the compost bin?
Please bring all of your compostable waste and drop it in a green, compost bin. Compost bins are currently located outside of Brandeis Dining Hall and the Skutt Student Center and on the mall near the fountain.
Why should I compost?
Climate change is an existential threat to the world as we know it. Small choices you make every day have an enormous collective impact. Composting is one of the small choices you make every day.
- When food waste is sent to a landfill, it decomposes in an anaerobic environment (decomposition without oxygen). This process produces methane, which is a noxious greenhouse gas 28X more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2).
- When food waste is sent to a compost farm, the food is decomposed in an aerobic environment (decomposition with oxygen). This process produces carbon dioxide (CO2 isn't great, but it is 28X better than methane) and healthy soil. It is a win-win!
- We are donating 2,200 lbs of soil created from our food waste every month to local community gardens. The first donation went to a community garden at King Science & Technology Magnet Middle School.
Where do we compost our food waste?
Creighton has partnered with Hillside Solutions to compost our food waste. They pick up food waste from campus every week. The food waste is taken to their composting farm near the airport. Each month we donate 2,200 lbs of soil created from our compost to community gardens in North Omaha.
Glass can be recycled at the nearby Northeast Drop-Off Site located at 17th & Burt Streets (outside Jelinek Building) daily between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (April through August) and 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (September through March)
Rechargeable batteries, empty aerosol cans, lightbulbs other than incandescent, mercury-containing devices: The EPA and NDEQ require us to recycle these items. Please contact our Chemical Coordinator, Mary Duda for assistance with recycling these items.
Scrap Metal and Large Quantities of Items: Please fill out a work order.
Lab Equipment: For disposal of medical or scientific lab equipment, please contact our Chemical Coordinator, Mary Duda.
Visit Wasteline for more information about City of Omaha recycling.
