You can direct any questions, concerns or comments to: recycling@montana.edu

Recycling options in Montana are somewhat limited due to our distance from large recycling facilities. It is important to read signage thoroughly and reduce contamination.

Recycled Materials On Campus

Cans

We accept aluminum and steel cans in our recycling bins. Please empty liquid before recycling. Recycling cans is the most sustainable material to recycle, there is 95% energy savings.

Plastic 

Plastics are the most difficult item to recycle. Due to the varying resins and structural properties, plastic can only be recycled once or twice and often becomes a non-recyclable item like carpet or clothing. At MSU we are only able to recycle plastic bottles. Plastic cups, berry containers and clamshells are not recyclable.

Paper

Manufacturing recycled paper uses only 60% of the energy needed to produce paper from fresh pulp and reduces the number of trees needed to produce paper. We accept newspaper, office paper, magazines, catalogs, manilla folders, junk mail, soft cover books and hard cover books (if covers are removed). Recycling one ton of paper saves enough energy to power the average American home for six months. 

Cardboard

Recycling 1 ton of cardboard saves over 9 cubic yards of landfill space. We accept corrugated cardboard, paperboard (cereal boxes, cracker boxes), brown packaging paper. We do not take any cardboard that has a thick wax coating (boxes from the freezer or refrigerator).

Food Waste

By composting food waste rather than taking it to the landfill, greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill are reduced and we get a great finished product that can be used on campus. You can learn more about composting by visiting the Food Composting page.