Acceptable materials for bins in established pick-up stations

• Plastic Bottles and Metal Cans
• Cardboard (must be flattened)
• Clean Paper
• Toner (must be re-packaged and labeled as “recycling.”)
• Batteries (box or bag separately and labeled as “recycling.”)

 No item will be accepted if it contains food, oil or grease

Incorporation of non-accepted materials or those containing food, oil or grease adds to processing costs and puts the entire collection of recyclable material at risk of contamination, which requires disposal in the landfill.

The Recycling Services Yard is located at 1818 Camino del Servicio – near the corner of Tucker Ave. and University Blvd., south of UNM parking lot G. The following items are acceptable for drop off. Please consult with a Recycling Tech for proper bin location. 

 Acceptable Materials:

• Emptied bottles and cans
• Flattened cardboard
• Mixed paper (including office waste, junk mail, cereal board, newspaper, books, etc.)
• Metal scrap
• Batteries (lead-acid, alkaline, re-chargeable)
• Copier toners (used and unused)

 No item will be accepted if it contains food, oil or grease

Incorporation of non-accepted materials or those containing food, oil or grease adds to processing costs and puts the entire collection of recyclable material at risk of contamination, which requires disposal in the landfill.

Once properly sorted, the material is baled and sold.

Markets for specific materials tend to be regional (i.e. plastic mills are concentrated in the southeastern U.S., paper in Mexico and the Pacific northwest, etc.).

Prices fluctuate with global economic variables and margins are thin. New Mexican recycling must commonly be shipped long distances, adding cost and reducing the return on investment.

Ultimately, the material is bought by a mill where is can be processed back into a manufacturing raw material. From there, it will be purchased by a manufacturer and made into some new consumer good.

Manufacturing new products from recycled raw material  (vs. virgin raw materials) reduces water and energy use dramatically.

Please submit a work order at https://iservicedesk.unm.edu/home.html. Payment details (index or billing address) and contact information are mandatory.

Use the comments section to describe the replacement bin (size and material type collected therein) and that bin’s location (room or suite #, near copier/elevator, in the kitchen, etc.).

No Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is required to replace bins at locations that have been previously established on the current schedule.

Please submit a work order at https://iservicedesk.unm.edu/home.html. Payment details (index or billing address) and contact information are mandatory.

Use the comments section to describe the desired bin (size and material type to be collected therein) and the intended bin location (room or suite #, near copier/elevator, in the kitchen, etc.).

You will receive a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), describing recommended terms (fees, service schedule). Print, sign, scan and return the draft MOU to accept the terms and initiate service.

Please submit a work order at https://iservicedesk.unm.edu/home.html. Payment details (index or billing address) and contact information are mandatory.

Use the comments section to describe the desired bin (size and material type to be collected therein) and the relevant bin location (room or suite #, near copier/elevator, in the kitchen, etc.).

No Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is required to exchange bins at locations that have been previously established on the current schedule.