Waste Diversion

Sustainable waste management

Addressing waste requires an in-depth examination of our resource use from extraction to disposal. We are committed to diverting as much waste as possible through reuse, recycling, and composting, all while maintaining our focus on the most sustainable waste management technique - reduction. 

Together, we aim to address the culture of waste by encouraging our campus community to make responsible decisions.  It's as easy as making simple lifestyle swaps - reusable over disposable - to greatly reduce our waste.

Reduce

Water bottle refill stations

Thanks to a winning Greening IU Indianapolis Grant, water bottle refill stations are now a campus construction standard.  Stations are located across campus and allow users to quickly refill reusable bottles while tracking the number of disposable bottles avoided.  Find refill station locations in your building.

Single-use plastics

Undergraduate Student Government at IU Indianapolis has partnered with IU Indianapolis Food Services to limit the number of single-use plastics available in dining locations.  Users must now ask for disposable cutlery, straws, and to-go bags at the counter rather than freely taking them.

Reuse

IU Indianapolis Surplus

IU Indianapolis Surplus is dedicated to the management of redistribution, public auctions, and recycling of retired or non-functional university property. Each year, redistribution saves IU Indianapolis approximately $1 million by reusing current assets versus buying new.

Paws' Closet

Gently-used clothing can be donated to Paws' Closet for reuse by the IU Indianapolis student community.  Each time you shop, you’ll scan your CrimsonCard. At Paws' Closet, you'll find items categorized by everyday attire, business attire, and accessories.

Shop IU Indianapolis Surplus

Open to IU Indianapolis faculty + staff:
18th Street Warehouse
1277 W. 18th St.

Request an appointment

Shop Paws' Closet

Open to IU Indianapolis students:
Cavanaugh Hall
Room 117

Make an appointment

Recycle

To help you contribute to our campus recycling efforts we’ve complied a list of downloadable resources that are ready for use, including a recycling pocket guide and branded signage to hang in your office. We know it can be confusing to know exactly what is recyclable and what isn’t, so we’ve got your back.

Recycling Pocket Guide

Compost

Dining Food Waste

IU Indianapolis Food Services composts food waste from Campus Center and Tower Dining. This food waste goes to GreenCycle where it is turned into soil. IU Indianapolis then completes the loop and buys this soil back for incoporation into the IU Indianapolis Urban Gardens.

Landscaping Waste

IU Indianapolis Campus Facility Services - Grounds collects brush, lawn trimmings, and dead plant material for compost.  Like food waste, this material is sent to GreenCycle where it is chipped down into mulch or converted to soil for reuse.

 

Residential Organic Waste

The IU Indianapolis Residential Compost Program offers free organic waste pick-up to all residents of Ball Hall, North Hall, University Tower, and Riverwalk Apartments and Townhomes. This residential waste, primarily made up of food scraps, is picked up by Earth Mama Compost and hauled to GreenCycle where it is commercially composted. The byproduct, a nutrient rich fertilizer, is then purchased back to be used on campus.