Take it or leave it – a recycling event open to all
Welcome to the autumn 2025 Recycling Event!
Recycling campaign calls for greater effort from the Aalto community
The campus-wide recycling campaign that began in October 2024 will continue for a few more months. New actions to increase the recycling rate are still needed.
The annual recycling rate of waste at Aalto University's Otaniemi campus has averaged 64 percent, and the campaign aims to raise the recycling rate to 70 percent by October 2025.
The latest results from the past nine months show that the desired outcome has not been achieved. New measures are needed, as well as greater attention from all campus users in waste recycling. We also continue to welcome new ideas to make sorting easier.
At present, the recycling rate has varied from month to month at roughly the same percentages as in previous years.
Next steps
In the spring, Maarintie 8 was selected as the pilot site for the recycling campaign, and the recycling stations in the lobbies and office spaces were renewed. There have been requests for separate bins for plastic and cardboard recycling in the lobbies, and as the project progresses, these will gradually replace or complement mixed waste bins in other campus buildings as well.
As the latest measure, and based on received feedback, waste bags will be color-coded according to the waste type. This will also make sorting work easier for cleaners in the waste rooms. The color-coding will be introduced during September.
The recycling campaign continues!
The impact of the campaign and the development of the recycling rate will be monitored and reported every three months, i.e. next time during autumn, while the campaign ends. Tips for better sorting, information sessions and guidance will also be provided as part of the campaign.
The next Take it or leave it recycling event will take place in March in the lobby of Otakaari 1. There will also be concrete changes to the campus recycling points later in the spring/summer.
Do you already have a good idea or tip to improve waste recycling on campus? Log in to comment below this article or email us at info-acre@aalto.fi. If necessary, tips can be used to make a very quick impact on recycling on campus.
Recycling campaign starts on Otaniemi campus
We will launch a waste recycling campaign on the Otaniemi campus in early October. The aim is to increase the recycling rate and reduce the amount of mixed waste.
First results of the campus wide recycling campaign
The Aalto community-wide recycling campaign was launched in October 2024.
Sustainability in action: recycling campaign at Aalto University continues
The recycling campaign across the entire Aalto community was launched in October 2024.
Read more news
Glitch artwork challenges to see art in a different light
Laura Könönen's sculpture was unveiled on 14 October at the Otaniemi campus.
The research puzzle of when humans and AI don’t see eye to eye
Francesco Croce works on robustness in multi-modal foundation models
The certificate for aalto and eduroam networks changes on 14 October 2025
Users may receive a notification or a confirmation request on the change of the certificate