Staples Reuse & Recycle Pilot Program

Emmanuel is pleased to be working with Staples and our longtime recycling partner IRN on a pilot program to demonstrate reuse and recycling possibilities for Staples packaging. We are pleased to take part in this important program that will serve as a model for regional and national replication.

Staples has two standardized packing materials that they typically use to ship office supplies: cardboard and low-density plastic. These are 100% recyclable, but Staples has recognized that there may be an even better way to handle used packaging: get it back to their distribution chain and use it again to ship more office supplies.

How it works:

There are two collection sites on campus: The mailroom in the Administration Building and outside of Marian Hall 227.

When Emmanuel staff open and unload Staples boxes:

1.Cardboard: The empty box should be flattened and placed into the specially designed sleeves. 

2. Plastic Packaging. Inflated plastic pouches should be placed in the blue plastic bags.

3. Full receptacles will be collected by IRN, our recycling company. To optimize transportation, this service will be coordinated with pickups of our other recyclable materials.

4. IRN will sort and evaluate Staples packaging for reuse. Boxes and plastic packaging that can't be used will be recycled.

For more information, please contact Kristen Zapata at 5-9954 or zapatkr@emmanuel.edu. 

Got other cardboard you'd like to recycle? No problem! Bring it to a collection site and IRN will recycle it.