The University recycles nearly 12 grades of paper which are separated according to their physical characteristics. Glossy, glue-bound and other irregular grades are separated and sold to brokers who take them to specialized recycling mills. Standard office paper fills the bin and is sold either to brokers or directly to the Rock Tenn Paper Mill. Newspaper doesn't generate any revenue. Plastic, metal and glass containers are dumped onto a conveyor belt where a sorter picks out the different materials and places them in the proper bins.
Aluminum travels to a flattening machine and is then blown into a bin by a vacuum.
Glass containers are separated according to their color before they are taken to the Anchor Glass Container Company in Shakopee. Plastic containers and steel cans are stored in bins and then picked up by brokers. Though the program generates revenue from steel sales, a poor plastics market leads to monetary losses. While more plastic container vending machines replace the aluminum can machines on campus, the University recycling program is negatively affected. A lull in plastic recycling has plagued the industry in recent years.