UCOP Building Waste Reduction Program

The goal of Waste Reduction Program for the University of California, Office of the President is to reduce the amount of waste we generate and send to landfill. This effort is part of our commitment to implement the UC policy on Sustainable Practices, which includes a goal of achieving zero municipal solid waste sent to landfill.

Franklin-Broadway Campus

Please follow the instructions below for proper disposal of waste items. If you have any questions about the Franklin-Broadway Campus Waste Reduction Program, please contact Darryl Brown, assistant director, Facility Management at darryl.brown@ucop.edu or (510) 987-0540.

How does the Franklin-Broadway Waste Reduction Program work?

All kitchens, conference rooms, copy rooms, restrooms, offices and workstations in the building have some combination of bins for recycling, composting and trash. The bins are consistently color-coded as follows:

  • Recycling = Blue
  • Compost = Green
  • Trash = Black

Bins are assigned as follows:

  • Kitchens, conference rooms and the fifth floor break room have all three bins.
  • Every desk has two bins: one large blue bin for recycling with one smaller, attached black bin for trash. You can also place your waste items in the appropriately labeled bins in the kitchens or conference rooms.
  • Restrooms have two receptacles: one bin (not color-coded) under the paper towel dispenser for soiled paper towels (which are composted) and one black bin for trash (marked “Trash Only”).

RECYCLING GUIDELINES (Blue Bins)

What can be recycled in the blue bins?

  • Paper items: Paper (white, colored and glossy), computer and ledger paper, envelopes, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, phone books, post-it notes, paper bags (if not food-soiled), cardboard, cardboard sleeves for coffee, cereal boxes (without lining), tissue boxes (without plastic wrapper), egg cartons (if not food-soiled), non-metallic wrapping paper.
  • Bottles and cans: Aluminum cans, aluminum foil, glass bottles and jars, spray cans (empty) and tin cans. Please rinse items out, if possible, before placing them in the bin.
  • Recyclable plastic: Bottles, coffee cup lids, cups and plates, containers and clamshells, tubes and lids. Please rinse items out, if possible, before placing them in the bin.

What cannot be recycled?

Food scraps or food soiled paper products (compost); waxed cardboard and waxed paper (trash); food wrappers (compost); foil-lined, plastic-lined paper or drink boxes (trash); plastic bags, wrappers or films (trash); plastic items with metal, fabric or rubber parts (trash); compostable containers (compost); biodegradable plastics (trash); Styrofoam (trash), batteries (see our Battery Disposal Guidelines below [link]), ceramic dishes or cups (trash), coat hangers (trash or your local dry cleaner), mirrors and light bulbs (give light bulbs to Building Services for proper disposal).

COMPOSTING GUIDELINES (green bins)

What is compost?

Compost is decomposed organic matter, including plant remains and other once-living materials that can be used as a rich soil conditioner. By composting your organic waste, you are returning nutrients back to the soil and keeping these products out of the landfill. Finished compost looks like soil — dark brown and crumbly. Recology East Bay picks up our food and organic waste and turns it into compost.

How does composting work on the Franklin-Broadway Campus?

Place all compost in the green bins located in the kitchens and conference rooms. We also compost our soiled paper towels from the restrooms, so each restroom has the appropriate bins. Please place your used paper towels in the clearly marked “Paper Towels Only” bins under the paper towel dispensers (these are not color-coded), and place trash in the black “Trash Only” bins.

What can be composted in the green bins?

  • Food: All food scraps including fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bread, cheese, eggshells, tea bags and coffee grounds. Plant clippings can also be composted.
  • Food-soiled paper products: Paper towels, napkins, coffee filters, paper cups and plates, paper bags, paper take-out boxes, paper milk and juice cartons with no foil liner. In the restrooms, place soiled paper towels in the clearly marked “Paper Towels Only” bins under the paper towel dispensers, and place trash in the black bins marked “Trash Only.”
  • Compostable cutlery: Cutlery, plates, cups, bowls and containers, if clearly marked as compostable.

What cannot be composted?

No plastics (including biodegradable plastics, which do not degrade quickly enough for compost), Styrofoam (trash), glass (recycle), metals (trash) or liquids (down the drain or, if toxic, dispose of only at a hazmat facility).

LANDFILL OR TRASH GUIDELINES (Black Bins)

What goes into the black bins for landfill?

Plastic chip and other plastic food bag wrappers or films; plastic bags and food wrap; foil or plastic-lined paper drink or soup boxes; plastic items with metal, fabric or rubber parts; biodegradable plastics; waxed cardboard and paper; Styrofoam; ceramic dishes or cups; coat hangers; pens and pencils; rubber bands; and mirrors.

BATTERY DISPOSAL GUIDELINES

Batteries cannot be thrown in the trash, because they have toxic materials that can leak. Each floor has small, clearly marked “Used Battery” tubs in the kitchen nearest the freight elevator. Place all size batteries in these battery recycling bins for recycling. Large batteries, such as those used in large flashlights and cordless power tools, and any cell phone or small electronics batteries should be wrapped or taped up for safety. Simply wrap the battery in plastic wrap or use scotch tape to tape over the battery end terminals to prevent leakage. Standard size batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, C and D) do not need to be wrapped or taped, but if in doubt, tape the terminal ends before placing in the recycling tub.

If you have any questions about the Franklin-Broadway Campus Waste Reduction Program, please contact Darryl Brown, assistant director, Facility Management at Darryl.brown@ucop.edu or (510) 987-0540.

UCPath Center, Riverside

The new centralized zero waste stations in your building will help our campus become more sustainable by promoting waste diversion awareness. Here is how to get started.

ZERO WASTE SYSTEM

Taking personal responsibility for waste generation and diversion from landfills will allow our staff to invest their time to clean for health. While custodians will no longer enter individual offices or work stations to empty desk side bins, they will continue to enter for all other services.

SELF-SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS

When your desk-side containers are full, empty them into the centralized recycling, compost and landfill bins. Food or compostable packaging and used paper towels can be placed directly into the centralized compost bin.

GUIDELINES FOR RECYCLING, COMPOSTING AND LANDFILL

As per UC’s policy to achieve zero waste, we are continuing to increase our overall waste diversion. Your support in using the guidelines below will allow us to achieve our sustainability goals. Please use our color-coded waste bins as follows:

  • Blue Bins - Paper, cans, glass, and plastics
  • Green bins - Food scraps, paper towels, napkins, food containers and utensils
  • Black bins – Chip bags, candy wrappers, wax or plastic lined cups, condiment packets, and non-compostable containers

BATTERY DISPOSAL GUIDELINES

Batteries should not be disposed of in any of these bins. UCPath and UC Riverside have a separate process for disposal of batteries.

UC Washington Center (UCDC)

UCDC uses “single serve” recycling, which means that all recyclables can be mixed in one container.

Recycle bins on floors 4-11 can be found at the end of each hallway. A list of acceptable and unacceptable items is below.

Acceptable Recycling Bin Items

  • Aluminum cans
  • Brown paper bags
  • Cardboard Catalogs, magazines and phone books
  • Cereal boxes and shoe boxes
  • Colored and white paper
  • Envelopes
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Newspapers and junk mail
  • Plastic bottles and jugs
  • Tin and steel cans
  • White ledger paper
  • If you see the recycling triangle, recycle it!

Unacceptable Recycling Bin Items

  • Aluminum foil
  • Ceramics
  • Batteries
  • Film canisters
  • Light bulbs
  • Painted wood
  • Paper towels
  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Plastic wrap
  • Porcelain Styrofoam
  • Empty aerosol cans