Recycling Program

UCSB Integrated Waste Management Plan

As far back as the 80’s UCSB has been recycling. But our growth in this area needs to excel all expectations from that time. Our Chancellor Yang has endorsed our recycling activities and goals. The Policy on Sustainable Practices from UCOP is committed to minimize the amount of University generated Waste and “UCSB Strategic Academic Plan 2007-2025 “states that it will be: Affirming our commitment to the principal of Sustainability as we strive to be good stewards of our natural and built environments.

In response to Public Resources Code Section 40196.3 which states that the regents of the University of California are encouraged to comply with code chapter 18.5, the “State Agency Integrated Waste Management Plan” and in support of the California Integrated Waste Management Boards goal for a “zero waste California”, the University voluntarily adopts the following waste diversion goals:

50 % by 2008

75% by June 30, 2012

Ultimate goal of zero waste by 2020

The goal of 50% by 2008 has been met by a whopping 62% and with the newer methodology of co-mingle and traditional recycling along with our ‘Waste Reduction at Venue Facilities and Large Events” collection a substantial increase in other materials recycled will be shown.

All outside contracts have to abide by the recycling goals at the office job sites and throughout the construction or demolition of any University owned real estate or materials. This is included in our bid request for work. UCSB's Recycling goal is collect anything that we can recycle while still requesting reduction of use of materials and when used that they be made from recycled material.

• Reduce your consumption of stuff

• Reuse what is available

• Repair that which can have a second or third time around

• Refuse extra packaging or wrapping

• Rot or actually compost

• Recycle is the last of your choices

Recycling Information

About Us/Contact Resources
Associated Students Recycling Program, 805-893-7765
Commonly Asked Recycling Questions
Recycling Information about what is acceptable and unacceptable in "office pack" and your recycling bins.
Closing the recycling loop - the 4 "R"s
Recycling Summaries of statistics for solid waste diverted from landfill.

Recycling Update

With the passage of the State legislature bill AB75(which took effect on January 1, 2000), UCSB needs to reduce our landfill weights by: 25% by the year 2002, and 50% by 2004! These goals were met and exceeded.

For the percentage and amounts view statistics.

Frequently and throughout different buildings on this campus waste stream audits are used to assure that the majority of our recyclable rich materials are being captured. UCSB in kept 188.1 tons of "office pack" from the landfill. However, the waste stream audits on this campus are showing that "office pack" is still the main ingredient -58%- of our landfill trash. This is a lower number than we have had before but still not acceptable. "Office pack" can be recycled many times back to its high quality content. Did you know that a piece of unshredded paper can be recycled back to paper 7 times prior to being recycled to a lesser grade of product such as cardboard fill?

Recycling Office Pack

The 188.1 Tons tons of "office pack" that UCSB kept from the landfill in 2003 through recycling efforts equates to the savings of:

•1,267,278.60 Gallons of Water

•10,954.94 pounds of Air Pollution

•551.13 cubic yards of Landfill space

•376.20 Gallons of Oil

•773,427.69 Hours of electricity (92.25 years for a 2 bedroom house)

•4,362.03 Trees

Catch the "UCSBelieves in Recycling" wave!
Use your blue "Pitch In" bins.
Feed those green Office Pack containers.
Flatten that cardboard.
Put that can or newspaper in the outside Associated Students recycling clusters
(walk a little way, the exercise is good for you).

UCSB has been able to form a strong network of dedicated people with a variety of talents to create this growing recycling program. The main ingredient to any successes we have had in recycling are due to the people on this campus. We are all responsible and we all have to participate in this recycling goal.