Compost and recycling

A word about recycling 

In an ideal world, everything would be able to be reused over and over again. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. While recycling something is better than throwing it away, it still takes energy to reprocess the materials and turn them into something new. Furthermore, many recyclable objects are downcycled, meaning they can only be used in a degraded form to create a different, lower-quality product. White printer paper, for example, is often downcycled to create cardboard and cannot be used to create more white printing paper.

However, if you can't use something again, it's better to recycle it than chuck it in the trash!

Recycling at Gunn 

There are both indoor and outdoor recycling bins at Gunn. The Gunn Green Team is working on improving the recycling program.

Electronics recycling

In fall 2007, the school purchased an electronics recycling kiosk from  Los Altos-based Green Citizen, an electronics recycling company. Students and staff can drop of plastic/biodegradable bags, cell phones, battteries and CDs/DVDs at the kiosk, located in the Student Activities Center.

You can drop off larger electronics at GreenCitizen, located just a mile or so away from Gunn in Los Altos. Some things can be recycled for free; others cost a small amount. See a full list of what GreenCitizen accepts here.

Gunn and the rest of PAUSD recycle electronics at GreenCitizen.

Students and staff can also recycle ink cartridges, VCR tapes, cassette tapes, floppy disks, tennis shoes and eye glasses at the Green Center in the Student Activities Center.

Composting at Gunn

The Organic Garden Club is currently working on a pilot compost program at Gunn using small compost jars in departmental offices. The club then empties them into their compost turner in the garden.

What's recyclable in Palo Alto

Paper

•    White, colored and glossy paper
•    Magazines and catalogs
•    Newspaper
•    Cardboard (flattened and cut to fit loosely in cart
•    Junk mail
•    Manila folders
•    Paper ream wrappers
•    NCR paper (carbonless)
•    Paperboard (i.e. office supply, cereal and tissue boxes, toilet paper tubes)
•    Paperback books
•    Telephone directories
•    Non-metallic wrapping paper
•    Shredded paper
•    Paper envelopes (plastic windows okay)
•    Self-stick notes
•    Paper bags
•    Maps
•    Egg cartons
•    Staples, paper clips, labels and tape are okay

Cans and Foil

•    Metal cans
•    Aluminum cans
•    Aerosol cans
•    Foil, metal lids and food trays
•    Rinse beverage and food cans, foil and trays

Glass

•    Bottles and jars

Plastics

•    #1-#7 containers (e.g. beverage, milk, soda, water, detergent, shampoo, lotion, yogurt, margarine)

NOT ACCEPTED

•    Food contaminated paper, plastic or foil
•    Film plastic (e.g. plastic bags, shrink wrap, bubble wrap_
•    Window glass or mirrors
•    Ceramics, porcelain, light bulbs
•    Glassware (e.g. vases, bowls, cups, plates)
•    Thermal fax paper or carbon paper
•    Metallic paper
•    Paper napkins or towels
•    Tyvek envelopes (overnight packages)
•    Expanded polystrene a.k.a. Syrofoam (e.g. mailing peanuts, blocks, food trays, cuts)
•    Aspetic containers (e.g. milk/juice cartons, drink boxes and pouches)
•    Frozen food boxes/cartons
•    Hardback books
•    Photographs
•    Blueprints 

From Palo Alto Sanitation Company’s “New Curbside Services” brochure

Need more information? Check out the City of Palo Alto's Recyclopedia.