Sustainability: Waste Diversion

The CSU Sustainability Policy calls for Humboldt to reduce its solid waste disposal rate by 80 percent by 2020, and then move to zero waste by reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill to zero. The amount of landfill waste generated on campus continues to decline each year. Since 2012, the amount of waste Humboldt sends to the landfill has dropped by 23%. Because everything from food waste to computers to office furniture gets reused and recycled, Humboldt has won a number of awards for its waste reduction efforts, including a 2012 CSU Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practices Award for its food waste diversion program, and as the winner of the 2014 national recycling competition Game Day Challenge in the "National Diversion Rate" category. 

Recycling

All plastic containers numbered 1 through 7, metals, aluminum foil, glass, as well as paper, magazines, and cardboard can be thrown together into any bin labeled "recycling" on campus. You can also throw rigid plastics, like buckets and laundry baskets, into the recycling dumpsters.  We also accept clear film plastics (e.g, shrink wrap, clear plastic bags) in our recycling bins.  

View a complete list of recyclable materials for our campus >>

Recycling 

Electronic Waste (E-waste), Batteries, Discs, Printer Cartridges and CFLs Collection

E-waste is the name given to electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, cell phones, mp3 players and fax machines are common electronic products. Recycling bins for these items are conveniently located across campus.

Recycle your e-waste, along with batteries, discs, printer cartridges, and CFL light bulbs in the E-Cycler (pictured above) at the following locations:

  • 2nd floor of the Jolly Giant Commons
  • Inside the main exit of the Library
  • Inside the UC Lounge
  • Outside the College Creek mail room
  • Inside main entrance to Natural Resources building
  • Inside main entrance to Founders Hall
  • Outside main entrance to BSS Forum

Recycle e-waste, batteries, discs, printer cartridges and CFLs in the blue E-Waste bin at the following locations:

  • Outside the main entrance to Science B
  • Outside east entrance to Siemens Hall
  • Outside east entrance to Student Business Services
  • Outside Warren House 53 R.O.S.E office

Ewaste 

Composting and Food Waste Collection

With your help, Humboldt is keeping close to 150 tons of food waste and compostable materials out of the landfill each year! There are now even more food waste collection containers conveniently located on campus:

  • At the entrance to the Depot and inside the Depot
  • On the University Center Quad
  • Main entrance to the library and in the Library Cafe
  • At the main entrance, behind and inside the South Campus Marketplace
  • At the main entrance to BSS
  • In green wheeled totes at all residence hall trash and recycling areas

All these containers accept biodegradable materials such as coffee grounds, soiled paper products, eggshells, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. Meat and Dairy are OK! No plastics or Bio-plastics please.

compost

Of this organic waste 8,000 pounds stays on campus and is composted by WRRAP to produce soil amendment for the campus grounds and CCAT.  The remainder of the biogenic waste produced on campus resides in an in-vessel composting system before it is taken to a vermi-composting operation off campus.

Other Recycling

Contact Morgan King at Morgan.King@humboldt.edu to have the following campus-generated items picked up for recycling:

  • Hard-bound books
  • Scrap metal and wire
  • Carpeting
  • Mixed rigid plastics
  • Sheet rock and ceiling tiles
  • non-painted, non-pressure treated wood
  • Appliances
  • Laboratory and field equipment
  • Brick, porcelain, concrete, broken glass

Reuse Opportunities

The EPA recognizes reuse to have a lower environmental impact than recycling.  These are just some of the reuse opportunities on campus: 

School and office supplies: Reusable Office Supply Exchange (R.O.S.E.) located at the Warren house 53 south of the library accepts surplus and used school and office supplies.  Managed through WRRAP, these supplies are made available for free to the campus.  R.O.S.E is open 8-5pm, Monday through Friday.  

Re-usable office equipment and furniture: Contact Facilities Management to request a pick-up at (707) 826-3646.

Packaging peanuts and pillows: These are accepted by Shipping and Receiving beside Facilities Management.

Graduation gown and caps: CCAT hosts a graduation gown rental and collection each year.

Dishes: For your next campus event or gathering rent dishes from Dining Catering Services for less than the cost of disposable tableware.  And YES, Dining washes the dishes.  Contact Dining Services at rlr4@humboldt.edu or (707) 826-3451 for more details.

Donation Dash: During move-out at the end of each semester Housing, WRRAP, and Facilities Management host a collection for reusable items; that are donated to local charities and thrift stores.

Miscellaneous: The campus holds frequent public auctions of surplus property.  These will include fun items such as vehicles, furniture, electronics and construction supplies.  Auctions are made public through the university announcements and local newspapers.