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Recycling

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The University of Tampa regularly recycles – directly or through vendors – the following items: batteries (consumer and golf cart), steel, copper, old appliances, old window air conditioning units, old wiring and cabling, computers, computer monitors and cell phones. Carpet waste is returned to the mills for recycling. Photocopier and printer toner cartridges are also sent back to manufacturers or vendors for recycling. Of course, hazardous waste is disposed of according to accepted environmental protection standards.

(February 2018 Update) In the past three years, more than 500,000 pounds of paper have been collected/shredded and recycled. For 2015-2016, approximately 6,000 pounds of electronic waste (ballasts, solid state equipment, etc.) were discarded, and for 2016-2017, more than 19,000 pounds of mixed electronics, like computers, printers, UPSs, etc. were e-cycled (recycled). In UT's dining facilities, napkins are made of 100 percent recycled-paper content and dispensers use 30 percent less paper than traditional dispensers. Take-out containers used in Ultimate Dining in Vaughn Center are recyclable as well.

In addition, materials from projects are not taken to a landfill, but rather, collected and transported to a recycling facility site, including:

  • Jenkins Hall – 1,200 tons of construction waste
  • ResCom – 14,000T tons of concrete taken off-site for recycling
  • Thomas Parking Garage – 1,100 tons of construction and demolition waste, 862 tons recycled (78 percent diversion rate)
  • Fitness and Recreation Center – 405 tons of construction and demolition waste, 163T tons concrete/123 tons other waste, total diversion is 286 tons, for a 71 percent diversion rate
  • Phase II (2) of Palm Apartments (crane pad only) – 230 tons of concrete and 5.5 tons of steel were recycled.
  • Graduate and Health Studies – Over 75 percent of the waste created during the construction was diverted from the landfill.

(May 2014 Update) Single stream recycling centers have been established on campus. There is one located on the west side of the Austin parking area. A second center was established to serve the activities and residents of the north campus in the Morsani parking lot and a third in the McKay Hall parking lot. All members of the campus community are encouraged to bring aluminum, recyclable plastics, newsprint and other paper to these containers.

Use of recycled paper products on campus is an area where significant impact can and is being achieved. The University’s official stationary is printed on a recycled stock. The campus photocopier paper and computer printer is made from 35 percent recycled content paper. Many other campus publications, such as the college recruiting materials and the alumni magazine, are printed on recycled paper. Some publications, like the faculty/staff newsletter and dining surveys, are now electronic and are published online only.

(July 2011 Update) A paper collection, shredding and recycling program collects on a bi-weekly basis printer, copier and other paper products from about 30 bins scattered around campus. Cardboard is collected from administrative functions, dining venues and the campus store and placed in a compactor for collection and processing.

(April 2009 Update) On Earth Day last year a paper collection, shredding and recycling program ;was established, and today it is a part of the campus culture. There are now 25 locations on campus with a total of 30 containers for the collection of printer, copier and other paper products. Collection occurs on a bi-weekly basis.

A cardboard collection program has been established to collect and compact boxes from administrative functions for collection and processing. The removal of cardboard from the trash stream is a significant goal of the regional trash management entity.

Finally, The University of Tampa 2009-2010 Catalog is now an electronic, Web-based publication.

(September 2009 Update) A second, single stream recycling container has been placed at the north end of campus to serve the residents of Straz Hall, Frank and Morsani Hall (formerly Stadium Center) and those who utilize the Cass Building, Jaeb Computer Center and other facilities in the area. This complements the container located in the south campus.

Thanks to the Class of '09, 15 bottle and can collection containers have been distributed around campus to help keep recyclable aluminum cans and plastic drink bottles out of the trash.

To efficiently use our resources, condensate water generated by the new air conditioning system for the Martinez Sports Center will be captured and used for landscape irrigation.