Non-Hazardous Waste Management
Facilities Management custodial and landscaping staff collect trash and recycling in state-funded areas.
The University of California is committed to achieving zero waste (defined as 90 percent diversion from landfill) by 2020 at all locations other than UC Health locations, which will have separate waste reduction goals. Learn more about zero waste on campus.
Campus customers can request a special pickup on a recharge basis.
Find out how to:
- Recycle on campus and dispose of non-recyclable items
- Dispose of hazardous waste
Office Recycling Containers and Bin Buddies
Campus offices and cubicles have a blue recycling bin and an attached Bin Buddy, a miniature trash container.
Why We Use Bin Buddies
- Since most office waste is recyclable, the Bin Buddy size represents approximately how much of what you throw away is trash. When you recycle properly and reuse items like coffee mugs, refillable water bottles and utensils, the Bin Buddy is large enough for your non-recyclable waste items and encourages more recycling.
- Eliminating trash and recycle bin liners saves resources and money.
- Many organizations use mini-bin programs, including UC Berkeley, Tufts University and Dartmouth College, among others. A 2014 study of 34 offices across the United Statesfound that mini-bins reduced the amount of recyclables in the trash by 16%, increased the amount of recyclables collected by 20%, and nearly eliminated paper from the waste stream.
How to Use Your Office Recycling Container and Bin Buddy
Custodians empty recycling and trash containers in offices and cubicles at least once a week. Larger trash and recycling bins in common areas are emptied daily.
- Put paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass, plastics #1-7, and hard Styrofoam in your blue bin for recycling.
- Put napkins, tissues, paper towels, food waste (unless you have access to composting), non-rigid plastic (like plastic bags, plastic wraps), and foil wrappers (e.g., candy and granola bar wrappers, chip and cookie bags, etc.) in the trash.
- Dispose of messy food waste in a lined kitchen or common area trash bin. If you are composting food waste in a central kitchen trash container, only throw away dry items.
- If your Bin Buddy fills before your weekly trash pickup, take trash to a nearby kitchen, break or conference room where custodians empty trash daily.
See a complete list of cleaning services and frequencies.
Outdoor Recycling and Trash Removal
Facilities Management uses Bigbelly waste management bins throughout campus. Staff empty other outdoor recycling containers on Tuesdays and Fridays and pickup trash as scheduled below.
Trash Pickup Schedule
| Eleanor Roosevelt College | Pickup |
|---|---|
| Bldg. 100 – Pepper Canyon, Food Works, Matthews Apartments | M/T/W/F/S |
| Bldg. 1200 | weekdays |
| Bldg. 701 – Residence Halls, Bldg. 1700 | M/W/F |
| Marshal. College | Pickup |
| Marshall College Units I, II, and III – Residence Halls, Oceanview Terrace, Supercomputer Center | M-S |
| Eucalyptus Point, RIMAC, UNEX | weekdays |
| Bubble Building, Chemistry Research Building, Fireside Lounge, Institute of the Americas, Media Center, School of Global Policy & Strategy, Social Science Building, Spanos Facility, Torrey Pines Center North | M/W/F |
| Mountainview Lounge | W |
| Mesa | Pickup |
| Preuss School | M-S |
| Shiley Eye Institute | M/T/W/F |
| Early Childhood Education Center | M/W/F/S |
|
Central Mesa: #9224A, #9230, #9234, #9238, #9256, #9264, and #9270 North Mesa: #3819, #3875, #3927, #3959 #3999, #4051 and #4091 South Mesa: #9106, #9126, #9130, #9152, #9156, #9162, #9176 and #9192 West Mesa: #3745 and #3755 |
M/W/S |
| Muir College | Pickup |
| AP&M/McGill Hall, Sierra Summit | weekdays |
| Muir Apartments and Tioga Hall | M/T/W/F/S |
| Muir Biology | F |
| Revelle College | Pickup |
| Revelle Cafeteria | M/T/W/F/S |
| Atlantis Hall, Galbraith Hall, Mandell Weiss, Pacific Hall, Urey Hall | weekdays |
| Bonner Hall, Central Utilities Plant, Forum Theater, Mayer Hall, Natural Science Building, Revelle Housing, York Hall | M/W/F |
| Che Café | On call |
| School of Medicine | Pickup |
| Stein Clinical Research, Stein Clinical Research Building | weekdays |
| Basic Science | T/F |
| CMM/CMG | W |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Pickup |
| Birch Aquarium, Deep Sea Drilling Project, Endurance Hall, Hydraulics Lab, Hubbs Hall, IGPP I – Munk, IGPP II, Keck Building, Nierenberg Hall, Remote Sensing Facility, Ritter Hall, Scholander Hall, Scripps Library, Sea Weed Canyon, SIO Snack Bar, SIO Storehouse, South Service Yard | M/W/F |
| University Center | Pickup |
| Center Hall, Geisel Library, International Center, Mandeville Center, SERF – Bldg. 409, Student Center | weekdays |
| Career Services, Parking Lot 403, Student Health, UCTR 303 | M/W/F |
| Warren College | Pickup |
| Canyon View Pool, CMRR, EBU I, EBU II, EBU III – PFBH | weekdays |
| Campus Services Complex, Canyon Vista Cafeteria, Literature Building, Warren Apartments, Warren Residence Halls | M/W/F |
| Biology Field Station | F |
| Off Campus | Pickup |
| 7835 Trade St.: Bookstore, STORE, Surplus Sales | M/W/F |
| Camp Elliott | F |
| Mt. Soledad | On call |