Recycling: how to sort your waste

All bottles and aluminium cans should be placed in the red bag.

Common points of confusion:

• Plastic bottles not marked as deposit-refund go into the purple bag (plastic).
• It's okay if some unmarked glass bottles end up in the red bag, as the sorting machines will separate them from the deposit-refund eligible ones. 

• It is important to remove any leftover food from the containers - 99% clean is sufficient.
• Any food left in the containers should be placed in the organic waste bin.

Common points of confusion:

• Styrofoam goes into general waste. If you need to dispose of a large amount of styrofoam, you can take it to a Sorpa recycling centre - please contact a supervisor.
• Cassettes and videotapes should be disposed of as mixed waste.
• Pouches are classified as plastic.
• If you're unsure whether the material is plastic or aluminium foil, you can crumple the packaging together. If it unfolds again, it's plastic.

If the packaging is labelled in the following way, it falls under these categories:

• Biodegradable = Mixed waste, black bin
• Compostable = Organic waste 
• Recyclable = Plastic packaging, purple bin

All clean paper products should be placed in the blue bag.

• This includes paper cups, leaflets, office paper, newspapers, and paper packaging.
• It is important that these do not contain leftover food, but 99% clean is sufficient.
• Note that the plastic lids from coffee cups should go in the purple bag, as well as plastic straws from cartons.
• Rinsing or emptying items as thoroughly as possible is recommended.
• If the paper is very wet, it should be placed in general waste.
• It is important to flatten paper packaging to save space in the bin.

Common points of confusion:

• Paper mixed with other materials goes into general waste, such as paper from sweet wrappers.
• Staples and paper clips can go in the blue bin.
• Baking paper goes into mixed waste and is not suitable for recycling with paper.
• Envelopes do not need to have the plastic window removed.
• Tape on corrugated cardboard does not need to be removed before recycling.
• Pizza boxes with a small amount of grease can be placed with the paper, but if the pizza box is very greasy, it should go in general waste.
• Kitchen paper and unbleached napkins should be placed in the organic bin rather than the blue bin.
• Large pieces of paper should be given to a supervisor, even though paper can go into the blue bin. Remember to flatten bags to save space! 

The black bag is for all non-recyclable waste, such as chewing gum, rubber and mixed materials, such as pens.

Try to use the black bag as little as possible. There are only a few things that should go there.

Note the exceptions!

• You shouldn’t put batteries into the black bag.
• You shouldn’t put toxic waste into the black bag.
• You shouldn’t put electrical appliances into the black bag.
• The above listed components should be taken to the nearest Sorpa recycling centre or to a supervisor at the University.

Common points of confusion:

• If the packaging is made from mixed materials, it should go in the black bag.
• Disinfectant wipes, disposable gloves, and masks should go in the black bag.
• Wooden chopsticks should go in the black bag.
• Cat litter and pet waste go into general waste.
• Pringles containers go in the black bag unless they are taken apart—then the bottom goes in metal recycling, the tube in paper, and the lid in the plastic bin.
• If you're unsure where waste should go, use the black bag. It's best to send an inquiry so we can improve information on confusing items (umhverfismal@hi.is).

The organic waste bin is for food waste and paper napkins only - nothing else.

Common points of confusion:

• Chewing gum should not go in the organic bin!
• Tea bags, including any staples, tags or string, can go in the organic bin.
• Most bones can go in the organic bin, but the guideline is that a lamb leg bone is considered too large for composting.

Examples of glass waste include jars and bottles without a deposit. Neither caps nor metal lids should go in the glass recycling.

If your department generates a large amount of glass waste, please contact a supervisor to arrange recycling or contact umhverfismal@hi.is to request a dedicated glass bin.

Common points of confusion:

There’s no need to remove labels or paper from glass jars or bottles. However, doing so is helpful.

Proper handling of hazardous waste is a matter of safety and environmental concern. The University of Iceland is committed to upholding international regulations regarding environmental issues, pollution and hazardous substances.

Many of the chemicals used at UI are harmful to the environment, humans and animals. Therefore, all waste and hazardous substances must be categorised correctly and sent to recognised facilities for proper disposal.

On the University of Iceland's health and safety website, you can find information about the classification and disposal of hazardous waste.

Households often contain various hazardous waste items, such as cleaning bottles, light bulbs, spray cans, and chemical products.

Common points of confusion:

• If products are labelled as hazardous, they must be sorted as such, even if the container is made of plastic and empty.
• Medications should be taken to a pharmacy, where the staff can dispose of them properly.
• Light bulbs may contain hazardous materials and should be sorted as hazardous waste.

Examples of metals include tin cans, jar lids, aluminium foil, and tealight holders. The packaging needs to be clean.

If your department generates a large amount of metal waste, please contact a supervisor to arrange recycling, or reach out to umhverfismal@hi.is to request a dedicated metal bin.

Common points of confusion:

Previously, metals could be placed with plastics in the recycling bins at the University of Iceland, but now they should go in the black bag.

No textiles should go into mixed waste. All textiles are recycled. Even worn-out clothes can be reused, as they are recycled and used to produce items like rags and blankets.