Environmentally conscious partiers rejoice: solo cups can now be recycled.

Beginning this month, the Middletown Public Works Department is expanding its curbside recycling services to now include numbers three to seven plastics in addition to numbers one and two.

Along with solo cups, now everyday items such as yogurt containers, shampoo bottles, and food containers can be added to the glass-metal-plastics recycling containers stationed around campus. Plastic film, Styrofoam trays, and plastic bags, however, are still not recyclable.

According to Associate Director of Facilities Management Jeff Miller, the University has taken steps to increase awareness about the change, such as communicating this information to students through Residential Advisors and to staff through the Wesleyan Connection. The Wesleyan Recycling Website, however, has not yet been updated to reflect these changes.
“As an institution we have an obligation to recycle and to do the best we can,” Miller said.
Miller noted that the University recycles about 30 percent of its daily waste. Moreover, the average student, faculty and staff member recycles approximately 3 to 3.5 pounds of waste and about one pound of paper per week.

According to Middletown Recycling Coordinator Kim O’Rourke, recycling centers around Connecticut began to accept higher plastic numbers when processing these materials became economically viable last year. While the city bears no added cost for processing numbers three to seven plastics, O’Rourke anticipates an increase in curbside loads with the additional items.

Both Miller and O’Rourke encouraged the community to take advantage of the new recycling opportunities.

It is truly a momentous day when a student can consume a Usdan Asian Vegetable Lo Mein Salad—in a recyclable container.