FAQs

• Office paper (Tape and staples are OK)
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Junk mail and envelopes (Be sure to shred any personal information)
• Cereal, snack, and pizza boxes
• Cardboard boxes (Please flatten boxes)
• All metal cans
• Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars 
• Glass bottles and jars
• Empty ink cartridges (Put in "techno trash" bin)
• Used alkaline and lead-acid batteries (Put in "techno trash" bin)
• Techno trash; including computers, computer parts and accessories, cellphones, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, VHS tapes, and light bulbs (Put in "techno trash" bin)
• Tennis shoes (Bin located on the 1st floor of the HTC Center Fitness Area)
• Clothes (Clothing donation bins are located in University Housing at the 24-hour help desks in Traditional Hall and Ingle Hall)

It's important to check if an item can be recycled before placing it into a recycling bin. Putting items in the recycling bin that can't be recycled can contaminate the recycling stream. After these unrecyclable items arrive at recycling centers, they can also cause costly damage to the equipment. Items you can't recycle at CCU include:

• Plastic straws or lids
• Paper-coated drink cups (Cups from CINO and hot drink cups from Einstein's, Starbucks, etc.)
• Plastic cups (Iced drink cups from Starbucks, Einstein's, etc.)
• Aluminum foil and baking trays
• Paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils
• Glass cookware
• Ceramic plates, bowls, and mugs
• Plastic bags (Some grocery stores accept plastic bags for recycling, find a location near you here) 

Recycling bins are located throughout all indoor spaces at CCU. This includes the hallways of campus residence halls, academic buildings, administrative building, athletic buildings; and inside of office spaces and hospitality suites. We also provide recycling outdoors along major areas such as stadiums, walkways, and bridges. 

For larger scale recycling such as move-outs and storage clean-outs, we offer a roll cart program to help recycle materials, when possible. Please contact recycle@coastal.edu for more information or to request a recycling roll cart. 

Teal recycling bins are FREE for every CCU student. Students can get a teal recycling bin at the Chant411 desk in the Student Union or email recycle@coastal.edu to request a pick-up/drop-off.  

Mini-Bins consist of a teal recycling bin and smaller black trash bin. They are made available for faculty and staff members to encourage recycling in office spaces. Every office on campus should already be equipped with one. If your office space is missing one, please email recycle@coastal.edu to request a Mini-Bin.   

All commingled recycled materials from CCU's campus go to the Horry County Solid Waste Authority's Material Recycling Facility (MRF). This includes plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, glass jars, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, and office paper. At the MRF, these materials are hand-sorted and packaged. The recyclables are then shipped to factories that turn them into new recycled-content products. For more information, visit www.solidwasteauthority.org/recycling.

There are 25 Recycling Convenience Centers located throughout Horry County. To find a Convenience Center near you, visit www.solidwasteauthority.org/recyclingcenters.

The Sustain Coastal Office is in the Facilities 2 Building near the Campus Post Office, it is located off Highway 544 and Founders Drive.

Old paper files may be reycled using our roll cart program. You may contact recycle@coastal.edu for more information and to receive a recycling roll cart. 

Please be aware that files containing personal information, such as names, addresses, and grades MUST be shredded AND bagged for pick-up, or processed through your department's shredding contract. We will not pick up paper documents that contain sensitive information.  

Faculty and staff can redeem their FREE sustainability kit by emailing sustain@coastal.edu. Students can purchase kits from Hicks, Chauncey's Choice, or U.P. Dining Hall. 

A Zero Waste event is an effort to divert 90% or more of waste generated at that event from the landfill. This is done through recycling, composting, and donating as much as possible. Zero Waste events at CCU include every football game at Brooks Stadium, the annual Holiday Park Lighting and Market, and more! Interested in making your next event a Zero Waste effort? Contact sustain@coastal.edu for more information.  

Sustain Coastal is always accepting donations for the Pop-Up Thrift Shop! 

During the Fall and Spring semesters, students living on campus can take donations to either of the donations bins located at the 24-hour help desks in University Housing at Tradition Hall and University Place. All other students, as well as faculty and staff, should contact sustain@coastal.edu or (843) 349-2763 to arrange a pick-up/drop-off time. You may also bring donations to any of the Pop-Up Thrift Shops on Prince Lawn throughout the semester. 

Items we accept include gently-used clothing, shoes, accessories (hats, jewelry, belts), books, and household items (decor, dishes, etc.). We do NOT accept socks, underwear, bathing suits, bedding, or reusable facemasks.

Sustain Coastal offers opportunities for collaboration and partnership, both on and off campus! We would love to partner with you on your next program or event. Please reach out to sustain@coastal.edu or (843) 349-2763 to connect with us.