Housekeeping

Laundry

Many apartment buildings will have laundry facilities for tenant use. To use the machine you usually insert a given amount in coins. Instructions for use are usually posted on or near the machines. For a list of area laundry facilities look in the Yellow Pages of the Telephone Directory under "Laundry". One such facility is located on 15th Street within walking distance from campus.

Campus Laundry Facilities Information on laundry facilities for single students is given to you by the Residence Life & Student Dining Services when you check into your dorm room (Preparing to live at Rensselaer). Information on laundry facilities for students living in family housing is found in `Living on Campus at Rensselaer - A Guide to Family Housing'.

Household Cleaning

There are many chemical cleaning agents which can be used to clean and sanitize various areas in the home; they are all sold in grocery stores. You should always read the labels and directions before using any cleaning product. Never combine two cleaning agents for any purpose. They are all chemical compounds and may produce harmful or fatal gases, if mixed. Keep all cleaning agents out of the reach of children (See Issues Related to Children.)

Remember that aerosol (spray) cans are under pressure and should not be punctured, placed near heat, or thrown in an incinerator. They may explode.

The Rensselaer Office of Residence Life and Student Dining Services and private landlords will expect you to keep your living quarters clean. Trash should be removed from the home daily. Food and trash left in the kitchen area will attract insects and rodents. If you do not maintain your apartment, Rensselaer or your landlord may force you to leave your apartment.

Recycling

Recycling is an alternative to throwing away. When you recycle, waste is converted into new products. Recycling reduces the amount of waste going into landfills. With landfills closing, we need to find other ways to dispose of our waste. Recycling also conserves natural resources - like trees and energy - by reducing the amount of materials we take from nature to make new products. The majority of our waste is recyclable.

If you live on-campus, chances are there are recycling bins outside your dorm near the garbage containers. If not, check with the campus recycling manager, Jon Bowman at ext. 6162 or ext. 2000 or e-mail: fixx@rpi.edu, about the recycling procedure at your dorm. The married students housing has a curbside recycling service. Check with the office of Residence Life about how to obtain the recycling containers and what can be recycled. Check with your department on how and where you can put your recyclables. Most of the buildings on the academic campus have large collection bins for recyclables. Your department should be collecting "an office mix" for recycling, which may include white and colored papers, computer print-out, junk mail, glossy brochures, fax papers, ... etc.

Students who live off-campus should contact Troy City Hall at 270-4559 for information about recycling efforts in Troy. In general, most of Troy houses have curbside recycling service. Glass, plastics (#s 1,2,3), cans, newspapers and corrugated cardboard are accepted for recycling. Check with your landlord about recycling instructions and collection containers. Students who live in apartment complexes should check with their rental managers. Most of them, however, have recycling bins next to the garbage containers.