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With the end of another academic year, you may be looking to do some spring cleaning around the office. As you start to declutter desk drawers and other office spaces, the Environmental Center has tips to help you make the most of your spring cleaning.

Recycling paper, cardboard and more

Recycling limits what goes to landfills, helping curb climate change. When recyclable items are put into the correct bin, it helps ensure materials maintain a high quality for the recycling process. Whether you have paper, cardboard or containers, there are bins and posters all around campus to help make recycling easy. Learn more about recycling in campus buildings.

Old equipment and furniture may be reutilized, recycled or auctioned as an alternative to disposal. Contact Property Services, who manage disposal of furniture and equipment purchased with CU funds. In addition to pick-up of large items, they offer sales and auctions of used CU property to the campus community and public.

Hard-to-recycle materials

Many special material items can be recycled through CU Recycling and the Environmental Center. These include:

• Old cell phones, chargers, batteries, iPods, MP3 players or portable CD players

• Computer disks, DVDs, jewel cases, floppy disks, VHS tapes and other magnetic tapes generated by campus departments (personal CDs and DVDs cannot be recycled through CU Recycling).

• Office supplies such as printer and toner cartridges, Tyvek envelopes, transparencies, interdepartmental mail envelopes, three-ring binders, dividers and folders.

• Plastic bags and film plastics

• Lab supplies

Learn more about collection and campus drop-off locations for recycling special materials, office cleanouts and shredding services on campus.

Other sustainability tips for the office

• Save energy by turning off computers, printers and copiers when you’re not in the office. Activate sleep mode on computers instead of screen-savers, and activate energy savers on copiers and printers.

• Commit to bringing in or keeping reusable items at the office. This can include mugs, water bottles, tote bags, utensil sets and more.

• Consider biking to or around campus over the summer. Faculty and staff can visit the UMC and Folsom bike stations for bike repairs, tune-ups and advice from mechanics on bike commuting. Faculty and staff also can get 50% off of an . 

Earn your Green Office Certification

The Green Office Certification is a campus sustainability program through the Environmental Center that incorporates many campus sustainability initiatives. The program has environmental and financial impacts, with very little time commitment. Increasing staff and faculty awareness of environmental policies, operations and resources at the university will maximize participation, reduce resource consumption, save money and provide practical knowledge to pass along to students and employees. As the employer of over 7,000 faculty and staff, CU Boulder has a tremendous impact on the community. By earning a Green Office Certificate in five easy steps, your office can have a positive lasting environmental and financial impact on the CU Boulder community. to learn more about earning a Green Office Certification from an Environmental Center staff member.