You are here: American University Finance Communications Campus-wide Replacement of Indoor Trash, Recycling, and Compost Bins

Communication July 24, 2024

Dear AU Community,   

We want to inform you that at the end of July and throughout August, the Facilities Management Zero Waste office will be replacing all the indoor trash, recycling, and compost bins across campus. The existing bins are old and getting difficult to empty and maintain, and generally no longer fit the needs of our campus. We are also using the replacement process as an opportunity to overhaul our waste stream color coding. While trash bins will remain black and recycling bins will remain blue, compost bins will now be green instead of orange. This replacement applies to all the full-sized bins with official signage, not to any small desk-side bins in individual offices.

The process of removing the existing bins and replacing them with new ones should not interfere with campus activities. We plan to start with academic buildings at the end of July and move on to residential buildings shortly before students move in. We currently do not have an exact start date but will keep building managers informed as bin shipments arrive and dates get finalized. We will work with Aramark to make the replacement process as efficient as possible.

We appreciate everyone’s support and will keep building managers in the loop as the project progresses.

If you have any questions, please contact Ransom Schutt.

Vincent Harkins
Assistant Vice President, Facilities Management 

Ransom Schutt
Assistant Director, Grounds Operations, Vehicle Maintenance, and Support Services