Recycled plastic bottles are used to make carpet, clothing and even auto parts.
Waste management is an important part of WCM sustainability efforts. Reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills can significantly reduce greenhouse gases and pollution.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, the Housekeeping and Custodial team oversees the movement of our trash and recycling. The trash from the main campus is collected and consolidated in a compactor, and recycling is stored in recycling rooms before being picked up by a hauler. Our hauler provides a single-stream recycling system, meaning all recycling streams are combined. The separation into different waste streams (paper, plastic, metal, glass) happens later at a sorting facility. Only corrugated cardboard (such as thick delivery boxes) is collected separately. However, keeping paper separate from plastic, glass, and metal helps preserve it and increases paper recycling quality. Therefore, the Office of Energy & Sustainability encourages WCM students and staff to separate paper from the rest of their recycling when possible.
What can be recycled at WCM?
Clean materials only. Rinse containers or wipe them, otherwise place them in the trash. Absolutely no food or liquid (only minimal residues are acceptable).
Note: Mixed metal/plastic objects (chairs and furniture) need to be collected as bulk trash. Submit a work order with Facilities Management & Campus Operations.
What goes in the Trash?
WCM Waste Streams (2024) - Main Campus
Diversion Rate
In 2024, of the 1049 tons of waste generated (excluding regulated medical waste and hazardous waste which accounted for 208 ton), 28% was diverted from landfills. Above the national average of 24%.
Buildings serviced by WCM’s hauler (single-stream recycling):
| Main campus | Offsite locations |
|---|---|
| 1300 York and Whitney Pavilion | 53 Beekman St |
| Belfer Research Building | 240 E 59th St |
| Weill Greenberg Center | 1163-67 York Ave |
| S and SI Buildings | 2315 Broadway |
| Olin Hall | 232 West 80th St |
| Lasdon House (Floors 2-5) | |
| Oxford Building |
Trash and recycling from residencial buildings and some leased areas are collected by other haulers via the building manager or by the Department of Sanitation. Usually, these areas must separate paper from the rest of the recycling, and the recycling streams are collected separately by the hauler.
Buildings with source-separated recycling include:
| Lasdon House (Floors 6 and above) and other housing |
| Feil Research Building |
| 77th St Housing Building |
| Center for Integrative Medicine |
| LA Building |
| MR Building |