Sorting Waste (Recycling, Compost, and Landfill)

In addition to reducing waste and sharing resources, it’s important that we properly sort the waste we do have to reduce what we send to the landfill. In 1993, Students for Sustainability (formerly known as KARES) created the first recycling program at Knox. Since then, Knox has developed a robust waste management system that includes recycling (traditional and non-traditional items), composting (through industrial and community-scale systems), and landfill options. 

Traditional Recycling 

Knox accepts paper, clean plastics #1-5 and #7, paper, cardboard, books, clean aluminum foil and cans, and glass bottles in its blue recycling bins. These blue bins are located throughout campus academic and residential buildings.

Some common items NOT accepted in these blue bins are #6 plastic, plastic bags or plastic wrap, tissues, napkins, wax lined cartons, and plastic or foil-lined food wrappers.

For more information, please refer to 3-way waste system signage around campus, or to these resources:

• Recycling in the Residences
  
• Recycling at Knox: Traditional Recycling

Non-traditional Recycling

In additional to traditional recycling, Knox is constantly exploring outlets for hard-to-recycle items. These non-traditional recycling items contain materials that use specialized processes to break down or require special disposal techniques. Knox collects these non-traditional items in special non-traditional collection bins, located in almost every building.

For more information on what materials are accepted in the non-traditional recycling bins, which is often changing, refer to the signage on the bins or this document: Non-Traditional Recycling: items and locations.

If you have a large amount of recyclable materials, that exceed the size of the collection bins, please contact the warehouse for traditional materials and the Office of Sustainability if they are non-traditional materials.

If any of these bins are missing or overflowing with materials, please let the Office of Sustainability know by contacting sustainability@knox.edu. 

Compost

Composting is the process of allowing organic waste, such as leaves and food scraps, to break down and decompose. Knox has two different composting systems, which allow Knox to divert a lot of food scraps from the landfill, reduce our carbon footprint, and contribute to the production of healthier soils. 

• Industrial-Scale Systems: Compostables collected in the cafeteria, Gizmo, events, and 3-way waste systems across campus are picked up by a company called Better Earth Composting and driven to Peoria. There, these organic materials are turned into compost. In 2023, Knox College sent 37,740 lbs of organic waste (food scraps and compostables) collected and composted at Better Earth.
• Community-Scale System: The Knox Farm runs a small-scale community-composting system where trained community members can drop off their food scraps to be processed by volunteers and Farm employees. This on-site system provides unique opportunities for learning about and connecting to the composting process. Plus, it produces high-quality compost that nourishes the soil at the Knox Farm!
  
  • For more information about community-scale composting, please visit the Knox Farm website. 
  • If you want to start dropping your foodscraps off at the Knox Farm, please contact sustainability@knox.edu or William Hope at whope@knox.edu to schedule a quick training session. 

Galesburg Community Resources

• Lowe's accepts rechargeable batteries, cell phones, CFLs, and plastic shopping bags for proper disposal and recycling.