Waste Disposal Guide

As a reminder, always ask yourself first: can I avoid producing waste? We encourage you to challenge yourself to keep this question in mind when buying products, planning events, or going about other daily activities! When you do have waste, we can help you place it in the correct stream. Our goal is to divert as much waste away from incineration as possible, and instead into compost or recycling.

Use the categories below or CTRL+F (on a PC), ⌘F (on a Mac), Share -> Find on Page (on iPhone), or More -> Find in Page (on Android) to search our list of items and find out how to dispose of these commonly used products. We are working to make this list as comprehensive and useful as we can. Don't see a particular item listed below? Let us know by filling out this form!

Campus Food and Dining
Off-Campus Food and Dining
Personal Hygiene
Residential and Office Life
Electronic Waste Disposal Guide

Campus Food and Dining

Aluminum Can

Recycle.

Baked Goods Wrapping

Trash.

Beef Snack Stick

Compost: Food scraps.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Black Takeout Container

Recycle: Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Candy Wrappers

Trash.

Cereal Cup

Recycle: Cup

Trash: Lid

Chobani Flip Yogurt Container

Trash.

Chopsticks

Compost: Wooden chopsticks and paper wrapping.

Trash: If chopsticks or wrapping are made of plastic.

Coffee Pod

Trash.

Coffee Stirrer

Compost: If stirrer is made of wood.

Trash: If stirrer is made of plastic.

Cold Cup (from Campus)

Compost: if item says ECOWARE, ECOCONTAINER or GREENWARE.

Condiment Cup

Compost.

Compostable Clamshell

Compost.

Condiment Packets

Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonaise, Soy Sauce, Duck Sauce, Honey

Trash.

Cookie and Cracker Wrappers

Trash.

Creamer Cup

Trash.

Granola Bar Wrapper

Trash.

Gum Box

Recycle: Clear plastic container.

Trash: Waxy paper lining and gum wrappers.

Gum Wrapper

Trash.

Honey Bottle

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Hot Chocolate Packet

Trash.

Hot Cup (from Campus)

Compost: if item says ECOWARE, ECOCONTAINER or GREENWARE.

Ice Cream Pint

Recycle: If pint is clean and has no wax lining.

Trash: If pint interior has wax lining.

Iced Tea Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or #1, #2, or #5 plastic

Indian Food Container

Recycle: Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Mac and Cheese Cup

Trash.

Mush Oatmeal Cups

Recycle: Aluminum lid and plastic cup if made of plastic #1, #2, or #5

Napkins

Compost.

Paper Bowl

Trash: If bowl has wax liner.

Paper Plates

Compost: If plate is clean and has no waxy coating.

Trash: If plate is dirty and/or has waxy coating

Paper Straw

Compost.

Peanut Butter/Nutella Jar

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Plastic Cup

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, or #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

Plastic Drink Bottle

Recycle: If made of #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Plastic Container and Lid

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is unlabeled or made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Plastic Utensils

Trash.

Popcorn

Trash.

Pringles Container

Trash.

Protein Bar Wrapper

Trash.

Ramen

Recycle: Plastic bowl if made of clear or white #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Trash: Plastic wrapping, peel-away lid, and/or styrofoam container.

Roasted Seaweed Packaging

Trash.

Small Sandwich/Salad Clamshell

Compost.

Snack Bag

Trash.

Snack Wrapper

Trash.

Soda Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or #1, #2, or #5 plastic.

Styrofoam Cup

Trash.

Sugar, Salt, and Pepper Packets

Compost: If made of paper.

Trash: If made of plastic.

Sushi Container

Trash.

Takeout Lunch Container

Recycle: If item is made of paper or provided by the College.

Trash: If item is made of plastic.

Tastykake

Compost: Food scraps.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Tea Bag

Trash: Wrapping and staple.

Compost: Tea bag (if it's not made of plastic or cloth).

Trü Frü

Recycle: If pint is clean and has no wax lining.

Trash: If pint interior has wax lining.

Wooden Utensils

Compost.

White Takeout Container

Recycle: White plastic base and clear lid.

Yogurt Cup

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Off-Campus Food and Dining

Boba Cup

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, or #5.

Dunkin Donuts Cold Cup

Recycle: Cup.

Trash: Straw.

Dunkin Donuts Hot Cup

Trash.

Hobbs Cold Cup

Recycle.

Hobbs Hot Cup

Recycle: Cardboard sleeve.

Trash: Lid and cup.

Plastic Bag

Trash.

Red Solo Cup

Trash.

Swarthmore Co-Op Prepared Food Container

Recycle: Clear plastic lid.

Trash: Black plastic base.

Swarthmore Co-Op Sushi Container

Trash.

Personal Hygiene

Band-Aid

Trash: If used.

Cold Pack / Ice Pack

Pour water in sink.

Trash: wrapper.

Contact Lenses & Container

Trash: Used contact lenses and packaging.

Recycle: Container if item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Cough Syrup

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Cotton Balls

Trash.

COVID-19 At-Home Test

Trash.

Deodorant

Recycle: If made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

Disposable and Reusable Razor Blades

Trash.

Eyedrops / Nosedrops

Recycle If item is made of glass or plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Face Cleanser

Recycle: If made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Face Mask

Trash.

Foundation

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Gauze / Bandage

Trash.

Glass Containers for Makeup/Skincare

Recycle.

Gloves

Trash.

Hand Warmers

Trash.

Lipstick and Gloss

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Lotion

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Makeup Brushes

Trash: If used.

Makeup Removing Pads

Trash.

Mascara

Trash.

Medicine Container

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Medicine Pill Tabs

Trash.

Menstrual Pad

Trash.

Mouthwash

Recycle If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Nail Clipper

Reuse.

Ointment Cream / Gel

Trash.

Q-tips / Cotton Swabs

Trash.

Sexual Health and Safety Products

Condoms, Lube, Dental Dam, Birth Control Pills, Pregnancy Test

Trash.

Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash Bottles

Recycle: If item is made of clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastc #3, #4, #6.

Soap Bar

Recycle: Paper packaging. Trash: Bar of soap.

Donate: To Worthmore if new and unopened.

Sterilizing Wipes

Trash.

Tampon

Recycle: Applicator and packaging (if provided by the College)

Trash: Tampon.

Thermometer

Trash: If used or broken.

Donate: To Worthmore if unused and unopened.

Toilet Paper Roll

Recycle.

Toothpaste

Recycle: Cardboard box and tube if made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If tube is made of plastc #3, #4, #6.

Travel Tissue Bag

Trash.

Vaseline

Recycle: If item is made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4, #6.

Vitamin Bottle

Recycle: If made of glass or clear/white plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If made of plastic #3, #4, or #6.

Residential and Office Life

Aerosol Cans

If full/partially full: Contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

If empty: Recycle: Aerosol can. Trash: Plastic lid.

Aluminum Foil

Recycle.

Bread Bag

Trash.

Biscuit Tin

Trash.

Cardboard Box

Recycle.

Cardboard Food Packaging

Recycle.

Chocolate Bar and Candy Wrappers

Recycle: If wrapper is clean and made of paper or foil.

Trash: If wrapper is made of plastic.

Clothing

Donate: If in good condition.

Coffee Bag

Trash.

Coffee Filters

Compost Filter.

Trash: Plastic wrapping.

Construction Paper

Recycle: If clean and free of contaminants (glue, tape, glitter, etc.)

Dish Soap

Recycle: If bottle is made of glass or of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Dryer Lint

Trash.

Dryer Sheets

Trash.

Envelope

Recycle: If envelope does not have plastic seal.

Trash: If envelope has plastic seal.

Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

Ink Cartridges, Batteries, Electronic Devices

View the Electronic Waste Disposal Guide for more information.

Foil Baking Dish

Compost: Food scraps.

Recycle: Baking dish.

K-Cup

Trash.

Laundry Detergent Jug

Recycle: If made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Dontate: To Worthmore if new.

Laundry Detergent Pods

Trash: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

Liquid Soap

Recycle: If item is made of plastic #1, #2, #5.

Trash: If item is made of plastic #3, #4,or #6, or black plastic.

Magazine

Recycle.

Milk Carton

Recycle.

Newspaper

Recycle.

Notebook

Recycle: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

Packing Paper

Recycle.

Padded Envelope

Trash.

Paper Bag

Recycle.

Paper Clips

Recycle.

Paper Towel

Compost.

Trash: If sprayed with cleaners or chemicals.

Plastic Wrap

Trash.

Postcards and Greeting Cards

Recycle.

Poster

Donate: to Worthmore.

Printer Paper

Compost or Recycle.

Scrap Paper

Compost or Recycle.

Shredded Paper

Compost or Recycle.

Staples

Trash.

Sticky Notes

Post-It Notes

Recycle.

Soup and Vegetable Cans

Recycle

Soup Carton

Recycle.

Sponge

Trash: If used.

Donate: To Worthmore if new.

Tissue Box

Trash: Plastic wrapping and used tissues.

Recycle: Cardboard.

Wrapping Paper

Trash.

Ziplock Bags

Trash.