- Solar power, fuel cells, wind energy, and more.
- Our climate researchers take to the skies
- Earth-changing educational opportunities
- Cars fueled by algae? It could happen.
- Sustainable construction in a coastal climate
- 54% of our commuters use alternative transportation.
- Target: Zero waste by 2020
- Saving a resource that's scarce in San Diego
- Implementing sustainable food practices
Today UC San Diego diverts approximately 55% of waste from landfills. By 2020, we will be a zero-waste campus.
Spotlight: Compost
UC San Diego students are partnering with the Housing, Dining, & Hospitality and Facilities Management departments to divert pre-consumer food waste, such as vegetable and fruit trimmings, into a compost pilot project. The rich compost that results then returns full circle into campus community gardens.
UC San Diego is also partnering with the City of San Diego to test the possible diversion of dining waste streams at San Diego’s new landfill expansion.
More about waste diversion
- Campus dining facilities:
- Replace disposables with reusable plates, silverware, and glass where possible
- Use compostable serving ware when disposables are required
- Green and wood waste diversion programs transform 30% of landscape waste into mulch and send 67% to public or private recycling programs.
Ongoing projects
- Our single-bin recycling program makes it easy for faculty, staff, and students to dispose of glass, metal, plastic, and paper recyclables in any campus recycling container.
- UC San Diego established ChemCycle, our own chemical recycling facility that accepts usable surplus chemicals, then provides them to researchers free of charge.
- UC San Diego recycles waste, light bulbs, ballasts, and batteries.