Trash, Recycling, and Compost
Responsible waste disposal is an important part of Hampshire’s sustainability efforts. We expect all community members to dispose of waste with care to help reduce waste going to landfills when we can. When in doubt, please look for signage or simply identify the delineating colors for the proper stream. For more info on where our waste goes once it leaves campus, see the Sustainable Hampshire resource page here.
Recycling (blue bins)
Hampshire College offers single-stream recycling across campus. Blue bins are for recyclable materials, including clean paper, glass bottles, metal cans, and plastics. For a full guide of what can be recycled, see the chart here. Depending on the location, the shape and size of the receptacle may differ, but the blue color will remain consistent.
Compost (green or brown bins)
Compost bins for food scraps are available in the Dining Commons, Kern Center, and the Bridge Café. If you are living in a Mod, your house may choose to compost household food waste as an agreed-upon household activity.
Solid waste or Trash (black bins)
Anything that cannot be recycled or composted goes in the trash. It may be counterintuitive, but if you are in doubt about a particular item, put it in the trash. Accidentally putting trash in the recycling or compost results in contaminated loads that may be rejected by our waste contractors.
E-Waste
Hampshire also offers battery and e-waste collection at the rear of the library, on the loading dock.. Bring your broken electronics and depleted batteries here for proper disposal; these items should not go in the trash. Community members are also welcome to reclaim items from e-waste to use in electronics or art projects
Other items
Hampshire also offers battery and e-waste collection at the rear library entrance. Bring your broken electronics and depleted batteries here for proper disposal; these items should not go in the trash. Community members are also welcome to reclaim items from e-waste to use in electronics or art projects.
Do your part!
Please dispose of waste in the appropriate bins. If non-recyclable items are put into recycling, the whole bin is considered contaminated and will be disposed of as trash. Disposing of trash, compost, and recycling with care will help Hampshire reduce waste and keep our recycling and composting contractors happy.