What's Accepted:

  • Office Paper (copier and printer paper, file folders, note paper, computer paper, brochures)
  • Junk mail (envelopes, letters, catalogs, etc.)
  • Greeting cards (no foil or glitter)
  • Magazines
  • Newspaper
  • Phonebooks
  • Paperback books
  • Spiral or bound notebooks
  • Paper bags
  • White/gray/brown packing paper
  • Paperboard (heavy, non-corrugated paper such as cereal boxes)

Not Accepted:

NOT in this bin: Place corrugated cardboard in outdoor cardboard cages. Hardback books and shredded paper are not accepted in Paper bins but departments may collect them separately in a bag or box and process them as a special recyclable.

NOT recyclable: cartons and aseptic containers, butcher paper, egg cartons, coffee/soda paper cups, napkins, paper towels, paper plates, or other items not on the accepted list.

Some OSU employees have let us know about a new kind of shipping insulation packaging labeled as the brand TemperPack and product "Climacell." Please note that this is made of a mix of paper and plastic and thus is not accepted for recycling or composting. Please either reuse or discard in the trash. 

Photo of "climacell" packaging

 

How to Recycle:

Place in the nearest bagstand or bin labled "Paper." Bindings on paperback books and notebooks can stay on. Paper should be greater than 2x2 inches in size (2x2 or smaller should be thrown away, composted if it is 100% paper or can be collected separately as "shredded paper" and processed as a special recyclable).

Where to Recycle:

Photo of residence hall binsIf you live in a residence hall, your room's recycling should be loaded into grey multi-bin units located on your ground floor (pictured at right), or bins inside the kitchens in the ILLC.

When out and about on campus, look for bins labeled "Paper." Inside of buildings, "All In the Hall" units or bagstand bins are most often used. If you work for an OSU department and would like to request more bins, please see our service request form.

How To Recycle Confidential Papers

What's Accepted:

  • Papers with confidential/sensitive information

How to Recycle:

Place in nearest confidential cart if you have one, or pack in box, mark 'to be shredded', and request pickup.

Fees apply. Read more on our Confidential Records page.