Waste Reduction

Limiting the amount of waste that is created and ultimately ends up in landfills is not only mandated by the State of California, it is essential to save resources and energy. Waste reduction and diversion is a part of campus history. Beginning with the Men's Track Team in the 1980's, athletes collected recyclables to support their program which led up to the establishment of an outdoor campus recycling center that continues today. The facility provides an avenue for the collection, sorting and recycling of a wide variety of unwanted campus materials including paper products and cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass. Limiting campus land-filled waste continues to be a regular part of campus business.

Our campus waste reduction & diversion efforts include:

Partnership with Sunset Waste Systems which sorts campus waste at its Fresno Materials Recovery Facility.
Increasing the number of outdoor recycling dumpsters (contents sorted and recycled at a rate of 90%).
Partnership with the California Conservation Corp. to provide beverage container recycling inside buildings and at large campus events and gatherings such as all athletic events.
Decreasing the amount of paper used by increasing the availability of web-based services.
Providing indoor recycling services (department office paper recycling pick-up).
Composting farm waste and exploring expansions into food service waste composting.
Mulching and reuse of green waste.
Participation in the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign.
Building in recycling requirements for construction and remodeling projects.

If you have any questions about the campus waste management program, please contact the Department of Risk Management and Sustainability at (559) 278-7422.