Did you know that Styrofoam™ and plastic wrap—including bubble wrap—don’t belong in your recycling bin? Common in packaging, cups, takeout boxes, and packing materials, these items are not accepted in most recycling programs and should go in the trash. Styrofoam is bulky and difficult to process, and plastic wrap can jam recycling machinery.
When recycling cardboard, remember to throw out the foam and plastic wrap packaging first, break down the boxes, and place them neatly next to or between the waste bins. Cardboard is collected separately and should not go into the mixed recycling stream. Proper sorting helps keep our recycling system clean and efficient—thank you for doing your part! For more information and to learn more, check out the CWRU Recycling page.