Hampshire College is committed to waste reduction and recycling. The primary goal of the Hampshire College Recycling Program is to minimize the amount, the financial cost, and the environmental impacts associated with the wastes generated in the normal course of living and doing business on campus. While at Hampshire, you will be asked to participate in this process.

The first and most important step in this cycle is to not generate solid waste in the first place. All members of the campus community are urged to think about the end-of-life impacts of any purchase they make. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there an alternative that generates less waste?
• Is there a more durable alternative that could be used and reused before it becomes obsolete?
• Can the product be recycled or composted when it reaches that point of obsolescence?

The next step is recycling. Please remember that recycling is a manufacturing process. For us to keep our wastes out of the landfill, we have to segregate them in a way that a manufacturer can use them to make new products. Bins and recycling programs for a variety of material are located throughout the campus. Please make sure to put items into the proper container. Be aware that our system may be a bit different than it is at home or elsewhere.