Recycling & Compost

Reduce, reuse, and recycle! Help reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. More garbage in the landfill increases the risk of soil, water, and air pollution and also creates the greenhouse gas methane. We are running out of landfill space in London and elsewhere. Help solve this problem by reducing your waste and recycling everything you can.

You can find recycling sites and compost bins at King's on this map.

Recycling

King’s University College offers various types of recycling programs, including container and paper recycling, and recycling for used batteries and printer toner cartridges, as well as for disposable masks, nitrile gloves and ear plugs.

container Recycling

Items accepted:

  • beverage containers and lids: paper cups, plastic bottles, juice/ milk cartons, glass jars and aluminum cans
  • food containers: plastic containers #1-7

Items NOT accepted:

  • paper products
  • plastic straws and plastic cutlery
  • plastic bags or plastic film
  • mixed materials: items that contain a mixture of paper, plastic or metal
  • compostable items: food waste, paper plates, paper towels and napkins

 

Paper Recycling

Items accepted:

  • paper products: writing paper, printing paper and sticky notes

Items NOT accepted:

  • plastic products
  • mixed materials: items that contain a mixture of paper, plastic or metal
  • paper plates, towels and napkins

     
Used batteries

Items accepted: household batteries, both single-use and rechargeable, as well as laptop and camera batteries, and vehicle batteries. Tape the top of single-use batteries – place a piece of masking tape over the positive terminal end so that it cannot come into contact with metal or other batteries

You can drop off your used batteries in Wemple Hall near the elevator, in the front entrance of Labatt Hall, and in the entrance of the library.

 

Used Printer Toner Cartridges

Items accepted: used ink and toner cartridges ONLY. Cartridges should be empty and free of any additional labels or markings.

You can drop off your used printer cartridges in the hallway outside Central Services in Wemple Hall.

 

 

 

Disposable Masks, Nitrile Gloves and Ear Plugs

Items accepted:

  • ear plugs
  • safety glasses
  • non-woven disposable masks
  • non-woven disposable sleeves
  • gloves: vinyl, latex, or nitrile
  • nylon safety vests

Items NOT accepted:

  • hazardous waste
  • medical waste
  • industrial waste
  • gloves: leather, biodegradable PLA, fabric, cloth, dipped synthetic, and coated synthetic

You can drop off these recyclable materials at the entrance of the G. Emmett Cardinal Carter Library. Check the guidelines on the poster.

Reuse

Reusable Item Collection Program for Local Charities: Operation Laundry Basket

Are you a student who finds yourself disposing of clothes hangers, small electronics and self-care items, kettles, or a significant portion of your wardrobe after just a few months in King's residence? Operation Laundry Basket, led by King's housekeeping staff, is a program to collect reusable items from students in residence and donate them to local charities. However, this initiative goes beyond simple collection; it aims to inspire students to reflect on their consumption habits, promoting a mindset of rational consumption, reuse of possessions, and donation when appropriate.

Time: During the end-of-year move-out period and cleaning times throughout the year. Ask housekeeping staff for more information.

Textbook Reuse: Textbooks for Change

Textbooks for Change is a program that collects and gives away gently used textbooks to students around the world who are in need. The program helps reduce the financial burden of purchasing textbooks and promotes sustainability by keeping textbooks in circulation instead of being discarded.

Items accepted: university and college textbooks published in the last 15 years, study guides, course packs, foreign language textbooks, and other material that assists in the learning process

Items NOT accepted: magazines, academic journals, badly damaged books, or books for entertainment

You can donate your textbooks and related materials in the box at the entrance of the G. Emmett Cardinal Carter Library.

Composting

King's has two types of composting bins: food waste composting bins and paper towel composting bins.

Food Waste Composting

You can throw all of your food scraps, napkins, and even your paper to-go container into the compost bins in the Wemple cafeteria. Feed yourself, then feed the Earth!

Items accepted:

  •  food waste: fruit, vegetables, meat and fish products, dairy products, sauces, bones, bread and grains, rice, pasta and coffee grounds
  • paper fibres: paper towels, paper plates, pizza boxes and paper food packaging
  • compostable paper cups and compostable cup lids

Items NOT accepted:

  • plastic bags, film, and wrap – these go into landfill
  • plastic bottles and cans – these belong in recycling bins!

Check the posters for our composting guidelines.

Paper Towel Composting

King's also composts paper towels – drop yours in the bins in our public washrooms and kitchenettes around campus. Please be careful not to contaminate the paper towel composting with other compostable materials.