Sort-it-Out - University of Victoria

Sort-It-Out Stations

Outside you will find our simplified Sort-It-Out stations, where you can start your waste reduction journey with a tri-bin receptacle. One bin is for compost, one bin is to deposit paper and plastic packaging, and one bin (your last resort) for landfill.

If you head inside, you will notice there are Sort-It-Out stations that give you the opportunity to sort even further! There are: Orange bins for metal, plastic, and paper packaging; blue bins for clean and dry paper and cardboard, green bins for compost, and black bins for landfill. If you ever get confused, check out the photo examples, posted on each bin!

Almost every building is equipped with a yellow soft plastics bin, Styrofoam recycling, and battery recycling. Find one near your favourite study spot, and bring whatever needs to be diverted from the landfill!

Properly sorting our waste into the appropriate bins helps means less waste will end up in the landfill – this reduces methane gas emissions, a volatile Greenhouse Gas!

What Goes Where?

All food waste
Paper towel
Paper Plates
Coffee Cups
Other compostable items
- e.g. coffee filters and tea bags from natural material

Bottles and cans
Hard plastics (#1-7)
Cardboard
paper containers
Soft plastics (e.g. plastic bags)
General 'garbage'

Clean plastic, metal, and paper containers (orange bin)

What's accepted?
What's not accepted?
Examples

Single-use coffee and tea beverage cups from food services
Single-use coffee and tea beverage lids
Plastic bottles
Hard plastics #1,2,3,4,5, and 7 (e.g. sushi and yogurt containers)
Aluminum and tin cans
Aluminum foil
Juice and milk cartons
Lids from jars

Please ensure that plastic is cleaned and free from any food residue before placing in the clean plastic, metal, and paper container bin.

Styrofoam
Soft and flexible plastics
- e.g. plastic bags, plastic overwrap, chip bags, crinkly plastic packaging
Food waste
Liquids

Clean mixed paper (blue bin)

What's accepted?
What's not accepted?
Examples

Hot beverage sleeves
White paper
Cereal boxes
- please remove any plastic
Flattened cardboard
Magazines
Books
The ungreased side of a pizza box
- please place the greased side in the compost bin

Coffey cups
Liquids
Food 'waste'
General 'garbage'
Any plastics
Bottles and cans

Landfill waste (black bin)

Divert it!
What's accepted?
Examples

Before you place something in the landfill bin, divert it! Click this link to find .

Many buildings also have additional stations to offer expanded recycling options, such as Styrofoamm, battery, and soft plastics. FMGT Waste Reduction Services continues to refine the expanded recycling program on campus.

Before you place something in the landfill bin, divert it! Click this link to find .

Foil lined bags
Chip bags
Soft and flexible plastics
- e.g. plastic bags, overwraps, chip bags, crinkly plastic packaging
non-recyclables and non-compostables