Waste Minimization

The Waste Minimization Plan was completed in 2024 and provides an important pillar to the work that the university has done for the past 16 years to advance sustainability. In that time, the university achieved a 42% diversion of waste from the landfill.The Waste Minimization Plan consists of four focus areas, each containing various initiatives to be accomplished by 2029. This plan is focused on the reduction of the total waste produced on campus and an increase in sustainable purchasing and contracting.

Read Our Waste Minimization Plan

Bentley has a robust single stream recycling program with an easy blue and black color-coded system. This means that all recycling goes into the blue bins and trash into the black bins. All common spaces and offices should be equipped with the appropriate bins.

Questions about how to recycle properly? Consult our Trash and Recycling Guide.

If you are missing a trash or recycling bin please put in a work order with Facilities Management here

Remember that anything you recycle must be clean and as dry as possible.

Textiles are banned from disposal in trash bins in Massachusetts. To reduce trash generation throughout the state, textiles including clothes, shoes, linens, towels, curtains, and cloth accessories must now be recycled or donated. 95% of textiles can be recycled or donated for reuse. To aid that effort, Bentley has partnered with Helpsy to install three clothing and shoe donation bins on campus located in: 

• The parking lot at Lewis Hall
• The parking lot near Rhodes Hall
• Near building B on North Campus

Bentley offers two electronic recycling stations for students, faculty and staff to recycle electronics such as batteries, cell phones, hand-held electronics and inkjet cartridges. Stations are located are on the ground floor of the library (next to the Client Services desk) and the first floor of Morison Hall.

Bentley Owned Electronics   

Items such as networked printers, copiers, and fax machines that are marked with a network tag or ID are handled by Client Services. Please contact them if you have one of these items that are no longer being used in your department. 

Other Bentley owned electronics such as small desktop printers, scanners and small electronics used in Bentley departments can be recycled through Facilities Management. Faculty and Staff can put in a work order (or call x2208) at least 5 days in advance for the movers to pick up electronics for recycling. Facilities Management will collect these items for recycling by North Coast Services.

Personal Electronics

Bentley does not provide recycling services for large personal electronics. Large electronics can be recycled in a number of ways.  
Most towns provide "Household Hazardous Waste Days" or "Electronics Recycling Days" several times per year. Some towns have curbside pickup and some require residents to drop electronics off at the Department of Public Works. Check out your town's website and look under "DPW" or "Solid Waste and Recycling" for more information.

Best Buy offers free recycling services for electronics, even if you didn't buy them at Best Buy! This is a great example of a company taking responsibility for the full life cycle of their products.

In  2018, Bentley started a leftover food donation program in the 921 dining hall in collaboration with, a local non-profit food rescue organization. Through this program, leftover prepared food from the campus’ 921 Dining Hall is collected and frozen by Bentley Dining staff. Starting in Fall 2024 Bentley entered into a new partnership with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC). RLC is a nonprofit organization that collects and delivers surplus food to people in need through local non-profit partnerships.