Compost & Recycling

  1. Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability
  2. Campus Sustainability
  3. Compost & Recycling
A group of people standing in a grassy area.

Compost and Recycling

Seattle University’s Recycling department manages the university’s solid waste streams, including recycling, compost, and garbage. The department has received numerous awards for its innovative waste management programs, including our universal three-bin system and on-site composting facility.

We also offer special recycling for hard-to-recycle items like batteries, textiles, and Styrofoam across campus to reduce our waste as much as possible. We have set an ambitious goal of reaching zero-waste by 2025 and work every day to meet it. Please read below for more information on recycling and composting at SU, and reach out to us with any questions or comments. Thank you! 

Spread the word: use the following media kit materials and hang them around in your office, SU kitchen, dorms, bulletin boards and send on to everyone you know:

  • Paper: All colors, coated cartons and cups too. Must be dry (wet, food-soiled, or shredded uncoated paper goes in the compost bin!)
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic: Please keep the caps on your empty plastic bottles, and bag your plastic bags together. Must be empty, clean and dry.
  • Metal: All types of empty metal containers and scrap metal
  • Glass: All types of empty glass containers
  • Any and ALL food scraps
  • Plant and yard waste
  • Food-soiled paper (like paper plates or pizza boxes) and compostable to-go-ware
  • All to-go ware from Seattle U's cafe's and catering services is made from compostable plant-derived plastic or paper. This includes grab-and-go food packaging with the "Express" or "Chartwells" logos, paper to-go ware, and disposable utensils, cups, and straws.
  • EXCEPTIONS: Most coffee cups from off-campus cafes go in the recycling bin because they are plastic lined or made with non-compostable glues.
    • Ask the barista if cups are compostable, or use your own reusable mug!
    • Learn about what you can compost by checking out this flyer with more information from Seattle Public Utilities.  

Recyclable items that do not go in a bin:

  • Cardboard: Flatten, then place next to a recycling bin
  • Batteries & small electronics: Submit a work order to the Facilities Resource Center
  • Styrofoam: Put white block form product shipments next to a recycling bin. Put packing peanuts in a bag or box and place next to a recycling bin.
  • Confidential documents: Talk to someone in your department about where your confidential recycling bin is located.
  • Reusable items (office supplies and equipment, clothing for donation and food): Submit a work order with your items information to the facilities Resource Center.
  • Plastic film products: Do the stretch test; if you can stretch the plastic easily with your thumb, it is most likely recyclable. Collect the stretchable plastic consolidated into another plastic bag and submit a work order.

Our onsite facility annually turns 178,000 pounds of food waste into compost. The compost is spread in planting beds to improve soil quality. The facility has won several awards for being located in a large city, adjacent to an apartment building and restaurants, and operating without odor issues.

To schedule a group tour, contact Nathan Wolk at wolknathanie@seattleu.edu. The facility is located at 755 13th Avenue between the O’Brien Center and the School of Law Annex (map). 

Contact Nathaniel Wolk, Recycling Coordinator and Compost Technician: wolknathanie@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-6459.