Single Stream Recycling

UPDATE - OCTOBER 2023

Villanova University has now expanded its Single-Stream Recycling program to also accept the following materials:

• ALL rigid plastic containers #1-#7 (no Styrofoam™)
• Flexible and "soft" plastics (Plastic grocery bags, snack and chip bags, the wrapper to a loaf of bread, case wrap ( like what’s around a case of water), bubble wrap, plastic film, and so much more)   

***This program update is not yet available at the Inn at Villanova, Riley Hall, Aldwyn I, or the VU Center

Villanova University is a Single-Stream Recycler, which means all common recyclable materials can be placed into the same recycling bins or dumpsters.  Materials are then collected and hauled to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted and sold off as feedstock for manufacturing new products.

• One of the major benefits of this system is that it is easier for consumers and organizations to recycle, which increases participation in recycling.
• One of the disadvantages of this system is that contamination levels can be higher if consumers do not know what to throw in Single Stream Recycling bins.  Please familiarize yourself with the acceptable item list below, and refrain from "wishcycling".  If our recycling bins have too much trash contamination, it could result in all contents being trashed.
• Items smaller than a credit card should not be placed in single stream recycling bins.  An example would be shredded paper.  Instead of using a personal paper shredder for confidential documents, please utilize our confidential document destruction program instead.  This will ensure that the paper gets recycled and also help prevent litter on our beautiful campus.
• All containers should be empty.  Please empty your cups, cans, or bottles into a drain or one of our new Liquid Waste Stream bins.  Food should also be removed from plastic clamshell containers.
• When in doubt, throw it out!  If you're not sure if an item is recyclable, throw it in the trash instead.  Contamination in recycling bins is the root cause for increased recycling costs, and it can also result in good recycling items being sent to a landfill instead of being recycled.

See below for a list of common items that can be recycled in Villanova's Single-Stream Recycling Program.

*In some locations on campus there is still a multistream recycling infrastructure in place, where bins are labeled for just paper and cardboard, or plastic and glass, but all recyclables can be placed in any recycling bin until we've been able to fully replace the outdated infrastructure.

Villanova University hauls its own single-stream recycling material to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) owned and operated by J.P. Mascaro & Sons, called Total Recycle.  This MRF can accept all plastic containers #1-#7 and flexible plastics such as bags, film, and other items.

To learn more about Single Stream Recycling, and see how a Materials Recovery Facility works, click on the image below: