Recycling & Refuse
Panther Parkway Recycling Substation
The University of Northern Iowa and the City of Cedar Falls have joined forces to provide a city/university collection site on the UNI campus. Located west of Hudson Road, the site is north of the UNI Power Plant on the west side of Panther Parkway.
The city purchased nine roll-off containers, eight of which are currently used for recycling at the site. Set on concrete pads, they will accept household recyclables; including plastics coded 1 through 7, plastic grocery bags, clear and colored glass, tin cans, office paper, cardboard, newsprint and magazines. The city assisted with site development and improvements. The university provides site surveillance, grounds maintenance and trash removal.
For more on the recycling substation, contact Brian Heath at 319-268-5575.
Recycling
The University of Northern Iowa offers single-stream recycling. Single-stream recycling allows you to toss most recyclables into one bin. Here’s a simple guide on how to participate in our convenient single-stream recycling program.
Sorting Made Simple: What goes in the Bin?
| Material | Acceptable Items |
| Paper | Clean paper products like printer paper, notebooks, junk mail, file folders, envelopes. |
| Plastic | Check the recycling symbol! Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and containers with #1 or #2 labels are accepted. |
| Cardboard | Recycle newspaper inserts, catalogs, paperback books, phone books and brochures. |
| Metal | Rinse and recycle aluminum cans, steel food cans, and clean aluminum foil. |
Common Contaminants to Avoid:
| Material | Unacceptable Items | Why? |
| Food or Grease | Food-stained or greasy items | These can contaminate the entire batch and make it unusable for recycling. Compost these items if possible. |
| Plastic | Plastic bags and wraps | These can clog recycling equipment. |
| Electronics | Electronics | Check for campus e-waste collection options. |
| Hazardous Waste | Batteries, paint, etc. | Hazardous waste has specific disposal procedures to ensure safety and environmental protection. |
Recycling Tips for Success:
Give it a quick rinse: Briefly rinse out containers to remove any lingering food or beverage residue.
When in doubt, leave it out: If you’re unsure whether an item is recyclable, it’s best to err on the side of caution and dispose of it in the trash.
Recycling right is crucial for the success of single-stream recycling programs. By following these simple guidelines, we can significantly reduce contamination and maximize the environmental benefits of recycling.
Paper Recycling
The University of Northern Iowa has an active paper recycling program. Approximately 250,000-350,000 pounds are recycled annually from academic buildings. In most academic buildings there are generally two waste receptacles at work stations, one dedicated to paper and the second for all other refuse. The custodial staff maintains both receptacles, sometimes on an alternate night basis. Transportation Services moves the paper from the academic buildings to the compactor at the West 27th Street warehouse.
Virtually all paper items may be recycled in this manner including phone books.
Printer Cartridge Recycling
Campus Supply recycles old printer ink cartridges. To recycle, send printer cartridge to mail code 0193 and mark the cartridge "recycle". Rechargeable batteries under 2 lbs are also recycled. This recycling system saves UNI money.
Department of Residence Recycling
The Department of Residence has a collection system in place at University residence halls for mixed recycling.
Big Belly Kiosks
UNI has 6 Big Belly Solar Kiosks at high traffic areas on campus. The kiosks contain a Big Belly solar compactor flanked by two recycling containers for mixed recycling. Additionally, there are 6 standalone Big Belly solar compactors near other major crossroads on campus. These compactors both reduce campus litter and the time our Grounds staff spends emptying the containers. The recycling containers further enhance opportunities to recycle.
Please see the UNI Office of Sustainability for additional resources.
Recycling & Refuse Data
| FY | Paper | Single-Stream | Landfill |
| 2023 | 23.39 | 86.92 | 719.27 |
| 2022 | 25.22 | 87.50 | 679.94 |
| 2021 | 26.79 | 93.56 | 711.82 |
| 2020 | 39.75 | 72.03 | 561.84 |
| 2019 | 39.91 | 84.52 | 703.49 |
Academic Year waste disposal (in tons):
Refuse
While the University has a number of recycling and sustainability efforts, actual waste is taken to the Black Hawk County Landfill (usually via the City of Cedar Falls Transfer Station at 15th & State Streets).