Sustainability

Packing Materials
Most packing materials can be reused if they are clean and undamaged. This includes bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and packing paper. We are not able to accept hard Styrofoam.

Boxes
Must be clean, undamaged, and sturdy.

Bubble Mailers
Must be torn cleanly at the top, and no rips or tears in the body.

Bubble Mailers and Bubble Wrap
These items DO NOT go in single stream recycling bins. They can only be recycled at plastic bag and film recycling locations, located at most supermarkets. Find a local drop-off location at Bagandfilmrecyling.com.

Cardboard Boxes
Flatten and place in recycling bin.

Letters
Recycle.

Packing Peanuts and Styrofoam
These are NOT recyclable and must be placed in the trash.

Most junk and marketing mail is sorted out and recycled by Mail Center staff before ever getting to students or staff. Bowdoin is currently working with an organization called Waste-Free Mail to reduce the amount of unwanted mail sent to the college. 

There are a few steps you can take personally to reduce unwanted mail:

Unwanted Mail to Your Bowdoin Address

• Waste-Free Mail (WFM) will help eliminate unwanted mail sent to your Bowdoin address. Whenever you receive unwanted mail, choose to opt-out by filling out their free online form. This service is available to staff and students.
  
  
• Their is also a waste-free mail app you can use on any smartphone device.

Marketing Mail

• The Data and Marketing Association (DMA) allows you to decide what types of marketing mail you would like to receive, or cancel marketing mail together, at dmachoice.org. There is a $4 processing fee for this service, but it will remain active for 10 years.
  
  
• Catalog Choice is a non-profit organization that helps you unsubscribe from individual mailing lists on their easy to use website for free at catalogchoice.org.

Credit and Insurance Offers

• You can opt-out of prescreened credit and insurance offers for 5 years, or permanently, through the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website optoutprescreen.com or by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688).