Recycling & Waste
During 2008 alone, SCU disposed 3,248,320 lbs. of waste. Managing the reduction, recycling, and reuse of such waste, SCU Facilities operates the University's recycling and waste program. Items are collected from campus buildings and taken to the Facilities Yard for sorting.
Of the 2008 total, 994,500 lbs. were either recycled, composted, reused, donated, re-sold, or otherwise diverted, which accounts for an approximate 30% waste diversion rate from landfills. This is largely due to a comprehensive recycling program that collects plastic, glass, and alumnium containers, cardboard, paper, metal, electronics, batteries, cell phones, ink cartridges and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
New initiatives in test phases include food waste composting and use of used cooking oil to fuel diesel engines. See Recycling & Waste on the Facilities website for more information.
News
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Recyclable items include aluminum, plastics (#1-7), glass, tin, paper, corrugated cardboard, electronic waste, compact fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and ink cartridges.
New: compost collection for residence halls.
*Updated October 2009* Learn More »
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A new guide is available to help faculty and staff identify materials that can (and cannot) be recycled in SCU offices. Categories include paper, corrugated cardboard, beverage containers, scrap metal, electronic waste, batteries, and ink cartridges. Learn More »
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 Recycling FAQ's
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Learn about waste diversion efforts during campus move-out every June. Learn More »
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 SCU Recycling Club
The Recycling Club designs projects and events to encourage SCU students to recycle. Their projects include conducting audits of campus waste, volunteering as Recycling Directors at campus events, celebrating America Recycles Day in November, and promoting SCU's participation in RecycleMania during Winter Quarter. The Recycling Club meets on Thursdays at the Environmental Studies Institute. To find out more, visit the recycling group on Facebook: SCU Recycles.
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by Anne Farrell Traditionally, chemistry labs have been a source of large volumes of toxic waste. The waste generated by chemistry students must be disposed of properly, which can be expensive, and, even when the wastes are handled properly, there is lingering potential for lasting damage to air and water resources. As part of Santa Clara University’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the SCU Chemistry Department has made dramatic changes to its undergraduate laboratory exercises. Learn More »
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January 18 - March 28, 2009 This marks SCU's 3rd year as a participant in RecycleMania. Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors are all in the game! Learn More »
About recycling & waste at SCU
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 Recyclable materials
Facilities recycles plastic, glass, metal (including tin cans), aluminum cans, mixed paper (including shoe boxes, magazines, junk mail, white/colored paper, snack/cereal boxes and other materials that don’t have wet strength), and corrugated cardboard.
SCU recycled 2,136 pounds of aluminum in 2006.
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 Green waste
Green waste (tree trimmings, grass clippings, etc.) weight totals are relatively easy to track given that SCU has central points of disposal: the compactor next to Benson Memorial Center, the compactor near the Facilities Building, and the Green Waste site. In 2008, 264.79 tons of green waste were composted. The majority of green waste is picked up by Mission Trail Waste Systems, though some of the green waste, such as trimming from trees and shrubs, is put in a wood chipper and turned into mulch or ground cover. Using green waste as ground cover reduces weed propagation and evaporation, which in turn reduce the use of herbicides and decrease landscaping watering needs.
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 Non-recyclable waste
Of the 1,000-plus tons of non-recyclable waste disposed of in FY 2005, 288.9 tons were disposed of via the Benson Memorial Center compactor and 730 tons via the Facilities compactor. In FY 2006, the numbers rose to 336.5 tons for the Benson Memorial Center compactor, 793.88 tons for the Facilities compactor. Facilities is in the process of installing smaller scales to obtain more detailed records about the quantity and specific origins of waste. This will provide better information for strategies aimed at reducing waste in targeted areas.
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 Chemical waste
During 2008, SCU shipped 22,213 lbs. of chemical waste and 250 lbs. of biological/medical waste to outside vendors. Recognizing this substantial amount, SCU has began a chemical inventory system.
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 Electronic waste
To mitigate the growing problem of electronic waste, Information Technology operates the PC Replacement Program with donates roughly 600 computers to local non-profit organizations each year. IT also implemented the SmartPrint system in Fall 2001 whereby students have a fixed amount of printing funds deposited to their ACCESS Cards. Once depleted, funds can be replenished through FLEX accounts.
The Office of the Registrar now offers course catalogs in both a printed publication and online format as a segue to a new paperless system.
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Click here to download a pdf of our common recycling containers.
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A "classifieds" website facilitates the re-use of furniture and other materials by providing a site where students, faculty, and staff can post and search for used items. The classifieds website is available to all SCU login holders and can be found at the SCU login links page.
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 Composting
SCU is currently working with its hauler, Mission Trail Waste Systems, to develop a composting program. Before composting can begin SCU students and Mission Trail are conducting waste characterizations, audits to see how much of certain kinds of materials are being thrown away on campus. The information gathered from these audits will help the University and Mission Trail determine how much material they should prepare to collect for composting. This will determine the size of the equipment needed. The University will begin composting by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
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