What We Do

The Office of Sustainability wants to make it simple and convenient for students, faculty, and staff to participate in the various campus recycling programs. Check out the services we offer to help make sure campus-generated waste is properly recycled.

• Single-Stream Recycling: The single-stream recycling program is the easiest way to decrease your environmental footprint on campus. Here at Georgia College & State University, black or gray containers are designated for landfill trash (garbage) and blue containers are designated for single-stream recycling. Please take a look at the following list of items that are accepted in blue bins around campus:
  • Paper
  • Paperboard
  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
  • Rigid plastic containers (grades #1 and #2)

Download a PDF of the Georgia College Single-Stream Recycling Program Guidelines

• Bobcats Recycle: The Bobcats Recycle program allows students living in university housing to rent a 7-gallon recycling bin for their room or apartment. The program is designed to introduce first-year students to the single-stream recycling program and educate students about what is and is not recyclable here at GCSU. Students interested in participating in the Bobcats Recycle program should contact the Office of Sustainability to request a bin.
• Glass Containers: Georgia College implemented its glass recycling program in 2021 to increase its waste reduction portfolio. Glass bottles or containers that are 4" or less in diameter can be recycled by tossing them into one of the designated collection bins on campus. Glass collection containers look very similar to our single-stream recycling bins. You can easily tell the difference between the two by checking the label on the lid of the container. Glass collection bins are labeled "GLASS ONLY". Our staff services these bins on a regular basis, however, you can send an email to recycle@gcsu.edu if you notice that one of the glass bins are completely full. You can discover where these bins are located by visiting the interactive campus map.
• Bulk Materials: Our staff facilitates the disposal of bulk materials upon request to divert as much from the landfill as possible. For example, if your department just received a large shipment of new office supplies and you now have an excess of packaging materials on your hand (i.e. cardboard boxes), contact us and we will come pick it up for you. This process helps us make sure that recyclable materials are properly disposed of, helps you get your area clean and free of debris with less hassle, and prevents recycling bins in common areas and building exteriors from overflowing with material. Submit your bulk material recycling request here.
• Ink & Toner Cartridges: Have a stockpile of used ink and toner cartridges? Let us recycle them for you. We partner with HP and other third-party vendors to recycle and remanufacture old ink and toner cartridges into new cartridges. Submit your ink & toner cartridge recycling request here.
• Batteries: Batteries are considered universal waste, which means they are a type of hazardous waste that is commonly disposed of. Batteries should never be tossed in with regular garbage or recycling because it introduces the risk of fire. Instead, collect your old and spent batteries in a designated container that is labeled and has a closed lid and let us recycle them for you. We partner with Battery Warehouse in Milledgeville to safely recycle batteries generated from campus operations. Submit your battery recycling request here.

Food waste is a serious environmental problem and contributes significantly to overall greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the U.S. and around the world. That's why Georgia College implemented a food organics composting program in 2017. Using grant funds from the Sustainability Fee Program, GCSU purchased a 6 cubic yard in-vessel composting machine and constructed a dedicated composting site to divert campus-generated food waste from the landfill. The site is located off of GA HWY 49 and is a short drive from Main Campus. Individuals or groups can request an educational tour of the site anytime by contacting the Office of Sustainability.

Georgia College constructed a campus garden in 2015 to provide an outdoor learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. The West Campus Garden is a 3,500 sq. ft. permaculture garden, which means we do not apply any pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers. Instead, we continuously research and apply best practices and alternative methods for organic gardening techniques such as natural weed suppression, organic pesticides for pest deterrence, and using campus-generated compost as an organic fertilizer. The garden is located on West Campus at the end of the Samprone Trail cul-de-sac. Individuals or groups can request an educational tour of the West Campus Garden anytime by contacting the Office of Sustainability.

Each year during move-in and move-out, the Office of Sustainability coordinates material diversion campaigns to reduce the environmental burden resulting from the significant amount of waste that is generated. Continue reading to learn more about each campaign and how you can help out.

• Move-In Recycling: During university housing move-in, all of the cardboard boxes that are used to store clothes, furniture, new TVs and appliances, and other personal items are generally discarded after their contents are emptied. As you can imagine, this results in a significant amount of cardboard waste, which can be easily recycled if disposed of properly. The Office of Sustainability coordinates the placement of recycling containers, distributes educational signage, and oftentimes has volunteers on-site to assist with breaking down boxes and ensuring that our recycling stream is kept clean and free of contamination. If you are interested in volunteering to help with Move-In recycling efforts at the next move-in, send an email to sustaingc@gcsu.edu.
• Dodge the Dump: During university housing move-out, there is a significant amount of waste in all forms, not only cardboard. This often includes unwanted and gently-used clothing, appliances, furniture, cleaning supplies, and sometimes perfectly-edible food. That's why the Office of Sustainability started Dodge the Dump, a program designed to divert gently-used items from the landfill and put them in the hands of community members who need them. Our community partners are local nonprofit agencies in and around the Milledgeville-Baldwin County area who help identify families and individuals who can benefit from items that are donated during Dodge the Dump. If you are interested in volunteering to help with Dodge the Dump efforts during the next move-out, send an email to sustaingc@gcsu.edu.

The Office of Sustainability is responsible for monitoring and analyzing the university's energy consumption and implementing various energy efficiency measures, including, but not limited to, the installation of LED light fixtures, low-flow faucet and toilet fixtures, and more efficient HVAC systems throughout campus facilities. Regular monitoring gives us the ability to detect anomalies in our energy consumption and provide solutions in a timely and efficient manner. Georgia College's utilities comprise a significant amount of its operating budget and the increased consumption of energy and the presence of old, inefficient fixtures result in increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is why it is imperative to advance sustainability within campus facilities. There are currently 3 certified green buildings on the GCSU campus:

• Ennis Hall, LEED Silver
• Wellness & Recreation Center, LEED Silver
• Integrated Science Complex, Peach Green Certified