Expanding Recycling at Colleges and Athletic Facilities

Guide to Best Practices for Expanding Recycling at Colleges and Athletic Facilities

Creating a successful recycling program on a college campus and in athletic facilities enhances sustainability, saves on waste management costs, and offers educational value to students and visitors. Programs that prioritize convenience visibility and education typically achieve the highest participation and lowest contamination.

Best Practices

Place Recycling Containers Strategically

Recycling and waste receptacles should be placed throughout athletic facilities and campus areas, both indoors and outdoors, particularly in high-traffic locations such as entrances/exits, near vending or concession areas, stadium concourses, student centers, residence halls, dining venues, libraries, and academic buildings.

Co-Locate Recycling and Waste Bins

Use 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 stations that combine recycling compost and trash in one system so students and fans can sort waste easily and correctly.

Use Clear Signage and Visual Cues

Bins should be labeled with color-coded materials and clear visuals. Restricted openings (e.g., round holes for bottles and cans or slots for paper) help users identify the correct stream and reduce contamination.

Customize for Campus Identity

Incorporate school logos, colors, or branding on bins and signage to build familiarity across campus and athletic venues so recyclers immediately recognize the system.

Educate and Engage Community

Provide regular education about recycling streams through flyers orientations social media and announcements during large events. Form "green teams" that help guide visitors at festivals games and other activities.

Expand Tailgate and Event Recycling

Distribute color-coded recycling and trash bags at parking entrances for tailgate areas. Use clear instructions and easily visible containers so attendees can sort on the spot.

Suggested Recycling Bins and Signage Options from Recycle Away

Recycle Away offers a wide range of containers and signage solutions designed to support recycling programs on campuses and in athletic facilities.

Indoor and Outdoor Recycling Containers

• The Simple Sort Collection – Multi-stream stations that can handle paper plastic bottles cans and trash in one unit.
• ErgoCan Collection – Durable indoor bins available with customizable graphics.
• Kaleidoscope Collection – Attractive customizable recycling stations for indoor student spaces and lounges.
• Spectrum Collection (with integrated signs) – Multi-stream cabinets with clear labeling to guide users by stream.
• Aspyre Recycled Plastic Collection – Outdoor bin options built to withstand elements while supporting recycling streams.
• Stadium Collection – Heavy-duty bins specifically built for large spectator areas such as football and soccer stadiums.
• Moon Unit, Metro, Octo and FlexE Collections – Additional interior and exterior recycling station configurations for corridors, plazas, and outdoor spaces.

Signage and Label Solutions

• Recycling Bins with Signage – Many Recycle Away containers come with durable graphic frames and swappable signs to clearly identify recycling streams (e.g., mixed recycling cans & bottles paper organic compost) so users know exactly where to sort each material.
• Custom Bin Graphics and Labels – Permanent printed graphics, logos, and campus branding can be applied to bins to reinforce message clarity and campus identity.

Detailed Operational Checklist

Use this checklist to plan day-to-day operations and ensure your recycling program runs smoothly:

Planning and Design

• Assess high-traffic areas inside and outside athletic facilities and campus buildings for recycling station placement.
• Determine the number of waste streams (e.g., recycling compost landfill) and choose appropriate multi-stream bins.
• Customize bins with school colors or logos to create a consistent campus look and strengthen recycling recognition.

Installation

• Place co-located recycling and trash stations in every major venue including stadium concourses, student centers, residence halls, dining areas, and academic buildings.
• Install clear signage with visuals and color codes on all bins so users immediately know what goes where.

Education and Outreach

• Develop flyers posters and digital guides that explain recycling streams and place them around campus and athletic facilities.
• Train facilities staff and engage students as "green teams" to assist at major events.
• Make announcements at games orientation events and in student communications about recycling expectations.

Maintenance and Monitoring

• Create a schedule for custodial staff to empty bins regularly and replace liners to avoid overflow.
• Monitor contamination rates and adjust signage or placement where sorting errors are prevalent.
• Track volumes of recyclables collected to evaluate success and identify opportunities for expansion.

Event Support

• For athletic events distribute color-coded recycling and trash bags at parking and tailgate areas.
• Place additional temporary stations in high-use areas during larger gatherings.
• Assign volunteers or team members to help guide users to correct streams and answer questions.

Continuous Improvement

• Collect feedback from students staff and visitors and adjust the system as needed.
• Review recycling rates at the end of each semester or academic year to set new goals.
• Update signage and bin configurations based on changes to campus needs or new waste streams.