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Zero Waste

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Campus Gardens

Tired of sitting inside behind a computer? So are the students who manage our campus gardens. Come touch soil with them as they maintain the outdoor spaces that make our campus greener.

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Student Sustainability Collective

Want to get involved with sustainability but not sure where to start? Visit the Student Sustainability Center, which takes an interdisciplinary approach to making changes on campus.

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Concerts and Events

Enjoy events like Bear Garden and Sun God? Student volunteers are always needed to work with the ASCE (Associated Students Concerts and Events) programming board to make these events zero waste.

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Campus Sustainability Efforts

SSC Resource Map

Student ambassadors collected location data, photos and descriptions of campus composting locations to assist the Student Sustainability Collective update its campus resource map. This makes it easier for students to find compost bins and drop-off stations, which increases composting efforts.

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Eliminating Single-Use Plastics

The University of California is committed to the reduction and elimination of single-use items in line with the State of California’s Zero Waste goals and in recognition of the severe environmental impact single-use products have globally.

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Waste Sorting Guidelines

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Recycle SignAttach this sign to the appropriate bin for use during your next event. We also recommend using a bin liner of the corresponding color to avoid contamination.

Print Sign









All recyclable materials can be placed in any campus recycling container, including office bins.

Mixed Paper (without bindings, rubber bands or paper clips;
staples don't need to be removed)

mixed paper
  • Any color paper and envelopes
  • Sticky notes
  • Manila folders
cCorrugated cardboard
  • Corrugated cardboard
paperbacks and newspapers
  • Newspaper
  • Magazines and catalogues
  • Phone books and paperback books
empty cartons
  • Paperboard beverage containers
  • Cardboard cartons
  • Boxboard (e.g., cracker or cereal boxes)
Empty Containers (with lids removed)
glass bottles and jars
  • Glass bottles and jars
rigid plastic containers
  • Plastic bottles, containers and lids with the #1-7 recycling symbol on the bottom
mixed metal containers
  • Aluminum, steel and tin cans/containers
  • Clean foil
Block Styrofoam
Styrofoam block
  • Block only – no Styrofoam packing peanuts

Be sure to:

  • Keep all trash out of recycling containers.
  • Flatten cans, plastic bottles and cartons whenever possible.
  • Empty and flatten all cardboard boxes before placing them inside recycling containers. Do not leave boxes near bins, dumpsters or on loading docks.
  • Empty liquids and food scraps from containers and ensure that they are clean and dry.

See how EDCO sorts items placed in recycling bins.

Note: Before purging paper files or generating large amounts of paper or beverage containers, contact the Facilities Management Customer Relations help desk, (858) 534-2930, at least 48 hours in advance to get a large temporary recycling container.

Other Recyclable Materials

Recycle SignAttach this sign to the appropriate bin for use during your next event. We also recommend using a bin liner of the corresponding color to avoid contamination.

Print Sign









How do we define compost(able)? 

At UC San Diego, compostable items include food scraps, unlined paper products and plant waste. Remember, not all items that are labeled “compostable” are accepted for composting, especially bio-plastics. UC San Diego expects that organics recycling will help us divert more than 1,000 tons of campus materials from landfills annually.

Organic Waste vs. Compost

Organic waste is any kind of waste that comes from living sources, such as plants or animals. This includes all kinds of food and yard waste, but it also includes things like paper, cardboard and hair.

Compost is the product created by the process of breaking down organic waste.

Food Scraps 
food Raw, cooked or spoiled: 
  • Meat, poultry and seafood (including bones)
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Cheese
  • Dairy products
  • Grains, pasta, bread and baked goods
eggshells, nuts, tea leaves adn coffee grounds
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds and tea leaves
  • Nuts, jelly, candy and snack foods
Food-Soiled Paper
food-soiled papers
  • Paper bags, towels, napkins, plates and cups
  • Tissues
food-soiled containers
  • Take-out containers and boxes (with no plastic or wax coating and metal removed)
coffee filter and teabag
  • Coffee filters
  • Tea bags
Natural Fibers
natural fibers
  • Wooden Popsicle sticks
  • Toothpicks
  • Chopsticks
  • Stir sticks
  • Untreated wood
  • House plants/flowers

Some campus gardens accept these items in compost bins:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Eggshells and nutshells
  • Coffee grounds/filters
  • Tea bags
  • Paper and cardboard (uncoated, cut into small pieces)
  • Shredded newspaper
  • House plants/flowers
  • Hair and fur
  • Fireplace ashes (from natural wood only)
  • Yard trimmings, including leaves, grass clippings, hay, straw, sawdust and wood chips

Be sure to:

  • Keep all trash out of compost containers.
  • Remove all plastics/bioplastics.

Recycle SignAttach this sign to the appropriate bin for use during your next event. We also recommend using a bin liner of the corresponding color to avoid contamination.

Print Sign









Soft and Small Plastics
plastic bags and wrap
  • Shopping bags
  • Wrap and film
snack bags and wrapper
  • Snack bags and wrappers
plastic straw and utensils
  • Straws
  • Utensils
razor and toothbrushes
  • Disposable toiletries
Mixed Materials
coated paper
  • Wax- and plastic-coated paper
coffee pods
  • Coffee pods
latex gloves and mask
  • Uncontaminated latex gloves
  • Masks
fabric, string, sponge
  • Fabric
  • String, yarn and rope
  • Sponges
clamshell and packing peanuts Styrofoam:
  • Clamshells,
  • Packing peanuts 
  • Plates, cups, etc.
other items

Other items:

  • Notebooks
  • Condiment packets
  • Toothpaste and ointment tubes
  • Adhesive tape
  • Ceramic items
  • Treated wood
  • Paint brushes and colored or wooden pencils

How to dispose of:

Universal Waste

  • Batteries
  • Printer ink/toner cartridges
  • Cell phones
  • Radios
  • Computers
  • TVs
  • Other electronic waste
  • Aerosol cans

Additional items and disposal guidance

Hazardous Waste

  • Personal over-the-counter and
    prescription medication
  • Personal sharps waste

Additional items and disposal guidance

  • Pens
  • Markers
  • Mechanical pencils
  • You can drop off writing instruments at the Bookstore.
  • Using an envelope labeled “used pens,” mail the items from any on-campus mailbox and they will be taken to a designated collection location.
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic film
  • Latex and other plastic gloves

Recycling Location for Additional Items

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Demystifying Zero Waste Terminology

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The Zero Waste International Alliance defines Zero Waste as: “The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”

At UC campuses, achieving zero waste means diverting 90% of our waste from the landfill and reducing our per person waste generation by 50% by 2030.

Diversion is defined as the many efforts we use to reduce the percentage of waste we send to the landfill. This includes reusing and reselling items, recycling and collecting organic waste for composting or anaerobic digestion.

An anaerobic digester is a machine that uses bacteria and enzymes to break down organic waste into a slurry known as digestate, which can be used to fertilize plants. This process also creates methane, which can be used to generate electricity or power natural gas vehicles and appliances.

Bio-plastics are moldable plastics made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil or corn starch, among many others.

PLA is a common kind of bio-plastic used to make items like plastic cups or as a lining on paper products to make them waterproof. PLA is often labeled as “biodegradable,” but this is misleading because most composting and anaerobic digestion facilities are not capable of breaking down this plastic.

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Zero Waste Highlights

  • The Residential, Retail and Supply Chain Services anaerobic digester at Sixth College recently began operation and can divert 10–25 tons of organic waste from the landfill per year by converting it to digestate that can be used on campus.
  • In 2020, UC San Diego operated dining facilities switched to reusable dinnerware and to-go boxes. As of 2024, Ozzie T2Go boxes have helped the campus prevent more than 68 tons of waste from to-go containers. In 2023, reusable to-go bowls were introduced andResidential, Retail and Supply Chain Services plans to introduce to-go cups in the near future.
  • In fall 2022, the Student Sustainability Collective opened a food scrap drop-off site at Seventh Market and distributed personal food waste collection buckets to students to make composting more accessible. Volunteers transport the waste collected at Seventh Market to Ellie’s Garden where ERC student gardeners compost it. This program has expanded to include three public drop-off locations and collected organic waste from two campus coffee shops and the Triton Food Pantry. In Spring Quarter 2024, this program collected and composted 5,189 pounds (2.5 tons) of organic waste.
  • In 2023, Residential, Retail and Supply Chain Services added 13 new compost dumpsters in UC San Diego’s living and learning communities before students arrived for the 2023–24 academic year. During winter break, Facilities Management installed seven new BigBelly organic waste bins in high-traffic areas such, as Library Walk. See the map to find your nearest composting bin!

UC Commitment and Ongoing Efforts

See UC San Diego's Zero Waste Plan.

UCOP Zero Waste Goals:

  • Reduce municipal solid waste generation to:
    • 25% per capita from 2015/2016 levels by 2025
    • 50% per capita from 2015/2016 levels by 2030
  • Divert 90% of municipal solid waste from the landfill at each campus through reduction, reuse, recycling and composting strategies.
  • Reduce and eliminate single-use plastic items, such as bags, food ware accessory items and beverage bottles, by 2024.
  • Prohibit the sale, procurement and distribution of packaging foam.
  • Set scope 3 emissions reduction targets for business travel, commuting and solid waste disposal in alignment with the state of California’s goals.

How UC San Diego is Meeting These Goals

  • As of 2024, we have reduced our per-person waste generation by 35% of our 2015–16 baseline, surpassing UCOP’s 2025 goal of a 25% decrease.
  • Total waste diversion has increased to 46% for fiscal year 2022–23, an increase of 5% from the previous year.
  • We have successfully phased out the use of EPS in food service on campus.
  • In accordance with the Sustainable Practices Policy, University of California campuses are to phase out and eliminate plastics. Plastics contribute to over a third of UC San Diego’s waste stream.
    • As part of the first policy phase, UC San Diego has successfully eliminated plastic bags from all campus retail and food service facilities. All campus facilities have switched to using paper bags or adopted a BYO bag model.
    • All UC campuses are working towards eliminating the sale of single-use plastic beverage bottles on campus by prioritizing the stocking of drinks in non-plastic alternatives wherever possible.

Questions?

For more information about our ongoing projects, getting involved, or problems that arise, contact fmzerowasteteam@ucsd.edu.

Data provided from the Sustainability Annual Report 2023.