Welcome to the Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling

The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was established in 1989 to ensure that solid waste was reduced, reused and recycled on campus.

At that time, a comprehensive recycling program was implemented which diverted 6.5 tons of material from the landfill. 

Over the years, this amount has increased to 21,494.18 tons in 1998. The varied scope of OWRR's programs has made a significant impact on UNC-CH's disposal of solid waste. 

This web site is designed to help the user better understand the services available through OWRR and to provide related information on solid waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

- OWRR Presentation -

Oh how things have changed...a short history 

In 1988, a number of students concerned about the lack of recycling on campus came together and formed the Tarheel Recycling Program (TaRP). 

Although the program was run by a small group of students, it was successful in advocating for recycling among the 37,000 students, staff, and faculty. 

In accord with the emergence of this student environmental movement, in 1989 the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill created the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) and hired its first Recycling Coordinator. 

OWRR and TaRP purchased 155 thirty-two gallon containers and implemented a comprehensive residence hall recycling program where glass, newspaper, white paper, and aluminum could be recycled.

Since this time, OWRR has expanded both its size and the scope of materials it recycles. The staff has increased to eight full-time and three part time employees, and there are more than 2500 recycling sites on campus. 

Program Results 

UNC at Chapel Hill has:

•      105 outdoor recycling sites collecting bottles/cans, newspapers/magazines and mixed paper from the dorms

•     208 buildings with indoor recycling bins on multiple floors collecting office paper, bottles/cans and newspapers/magazines

•     170+ trash dumpsters

•     120+ cardboard dumpsters

•     Collection of bedding from animal research labs and food waste from Lenoir dining hall, Ram's Head Dining Center and the Friday Center for composting

•   Program to reuse/recycle coal ash produced by cogeneration facility