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Waste Icon Waste

The University of California's Sustainable Practices Policy has a zero waste goal to divert 90% of municipal solid waste from the landfill by prioritizing waste reduction in the following order: reduce, reuse, and then recycle and compost. You can help by reducing and properly sorting your waste to keep as much as possible from going to the landfill.

Residents are responsible for emptying their room waste into bins and chutes accessible in all Student Housing buildings. Please do not place room waste into common area bins or bathroom bins. For additional tips on waste reduction and more, visit our take action webpage.

For locations on where to empty your room waste, refer to the following waste guide for your building.

Printable Waste Guides

Waste Streams

The following waste streams area available to residents living in Cuarto, Segundo, and Tercero areas. If you live in a University Apartment, refer to your apartment's waste guide below for available waste streams and sorting instructions.

Click on waste stream for details:

Student Housing Waste Guides

Residence Halls

Segundo Area

Tercero Area

Cuarto Area

University Apartments

The Green

Primero Grove

Orchard Park

Waste Streams

Compost

Compostables, also known as organic waste, are items that can break down in nature in a relatively short period under the right conditions. Examples of compostable items accepted are:

Food Waste

  • Fruits, vegetables
  • Grains
  • Dairy
  • Meat, bones, fish
  • Pizza, popcorn, cookies, etc.
  • Drinks

Food Related Items

  • Compostable plastics – look for PLA 7 symbol (below) or word "compostable"
  • Food soiled paper, waxed coated items, paper food containers, and cardboard
  • Wood items such as toothpicks and chopsticks
Waste Icon

Non-food Related Items:

  • 100% cotton or wool cloth
  • Paper towels
  • Cotton balls and cotton swabs (made with cardboard sticks)
  • Hair and nail clippings
  • Pencil shavings
  • Plant materials such as flowers and leaves

Residence Halls: Compost collection bins are accessible for residents to empty compostable waste into. Refer to your building's waste guide for nearest locations.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

Compost collection bins are not provided in residents' rooms. Any container with a lid can be used to collect organic waste. A coffee can with a lid or disposable food container (such as a large yogurt container) are just a couple of examples. Containers can also be purchased at local retail stores. Residents are encouraged to empty compostable waste daily.

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Recycling

All Student Housing areas collect recyclables in one bin, which is known as Mixed Recycling. In other words, you can put paper into the same bin as aluminum cans - no need to separate the items. Examples of recyclables accepted:

  • Plastics containers – look for recycling symbols shown below
  • Glass bottles and jars of any color (no Pyrex)
  • Aluminum, steel and tin cans
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Mixed paper and paperboard (non-corrugated boxes such as snack or cereal boxes)
  • Magazines, newspaper, mail
  • Note - above items must be free of liquid and food residue
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Residence Halls: Recycling bins or chutes are accessible for residents to empty recyclables into. Refer to your building's waste guide for nearest locations.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

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Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard boxes are collected separately from Mixed Recycling. When disposing of cardboard, please flatten and put in the proper bin to be recycled.

Material accepted in the cardboard bin includes:

  • Flattened boxes
  • Pizza boxes free of grease and/or food residue
    • If the box is contaminated with grease and/or food residue, the box is to be deposited into the compost collection bin.

When disposing of cardboard, do not:

  • Dispose of in waste chutes, as they can pose a fire and safety hazard if chute becomes jammed
  • Dispose of in Mixed Recycle toters, as they take up too much room

Residence Halls: Cardboard bins are accessible for residents to empty cardboard into. Refer to your building's waste guide for nearest locations.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

Dispose of cardboard in mixed recyclables and cardboard bins but not waste chutes and mixed recycle toters

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Landfill

Waste that cannot be reused, recycled, composted, collected as eWaste and are non-hazardous should be placed in containers marked Landfill. Examples of landfill items include:

  • Plastic utensils and straws (non-compostable)
  • Plastic bags and film
  • Beverage cartons and soup cartons (even ones marked "recyclable" as they are not accepted locally in Davis)
  • Candy, granola bar, chip bags, food wrappers
  • Polystyrene (aka StyrofoamTM), packing peanuts
  • Aerosol cans - only if completely empty (if full or partially full, see Household Hazardous Waste section)

Residence Halls: Landfill bins or chutes are accessible in for residents to empty landfill waste into. Refer to your residence hall's waste guide for nearest locations.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

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Reusables

Reusable items are gently used items you can donate when you no longer need or want them so others can use them. Examples of reusables include:

  • School an office supplies
  • Books
  • Clothing and clothing accessories
  • Art and craft materials
  • Video games
  • Small (working) electronics

Residence Halls: Collection bins for Reusables are located at the Area Service Desk.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

Reusable items are donated to the ASUCD Aggie Reuse Store, a student ran second-hand shop located at MU 154 which is on the Memorial Union's first floor next to the Information Desk.

Residents living in University Apartments are encouraged to donate items directly to the Aggie Reuse Store or local thrift stores.

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Electronic Waste (eWaste)

eWaste must be specially disposed of. Many common products require special care for disposal and, by California law, are banned from the trash.

  • Batteries
  • Small electronics and power cords
  • Inkjet cartridges
  • Cell phones
  • CD's and DVD's are no longer accepted as eWaste

Residence Halls: Collection bins for eWaste are located at the Area Service Desk.

For larger eWaste items, call 530-752-4265 or email shds.sustainability@ucdavis.edu for proper disposal directions.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

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Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Many common products require special care for disposal and, by California law, are banned from the trash. Lights, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), household chemicals and paints are some of the items that must be specially disposed of. Examples of household hazardous waste include but not limited to:

  • Glue and adhesives
  • Household cleaners
  • Mercury thermometers
  • Nail polish and remover
  • Paint, oil and latex
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Solvents
  • Medical Sharps*
  • Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL's)**
  • Unknown substances
  • Aerosol cans - full or partially full (if completely empty, see Landfill section)

*Medical Sharps containers are located in all the dining commons near the dish return

**To properly dispose of an old CFL light bulb, take it to the Area Service Desks in Cuarto, Segundo & Tercero and exchange it for a new LED light bulb.

Residence Halls: Email shds.sustainability@ucdavis.edu for proper disposal directions.

University Apartments: see your apartment's waste guide for instructions.

Return to Waste Stream List