How Do I: Reduce Waste

How Do I: Reduce Waste

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Do you live on campus?

Find waste diversion guides tailored to your residence hall

How to Reduce and Reuse  

In the waste management hierarchy, reduction and reuse are higher than recycling. In line with our UC waste reduction goals, we encourage everyone to reduce and reuse their waste first, and then try to divert any generated waste through recycling and composting.  

Tips for reducing and reusing

  • Bring your reusable mug, food containers, and utensils to campus. (At some campus retail food locations, you can get a discount for using your reusable items—just ask at your location to see if it’s available). 
  • Avoid water bottles by bringing a reusable bottle to use at one of our water refill stations.
  • Carry a reusable bandana with you. You can use it as a reusable napkin, towel, food wrap, and more! 
  • Pack your meals in reusable sandwich bags and containers instead of using single-use plastic. Bringing your meals onto campus also helps you control what you eat and how much you spend. 
  • Shop at thrift and secondhand shops on the Davis campus, and donate your gently used unwanted items there. These stores save their customers money and help keep waste out of the landfill! Check open hours for Aggie Reuse & Aggie Surplus online. 
  • Take a moment before you buy something new or throw something out. Before buying, ask yourself if you really need the item, and whether or not more sustainable packaging or durably made alternatives are available. Before landfilling something, see if it can be donated, reused, and/or repaired. Learn more about the Repair Cafe movement and local resources here.

How to reduce paper use on campus

Reducing paper use is crucial for conserving natural resources, protecting forests, and minimizing waste. By using less paper—through digital alternatives, recycling, and mindful consumption—we can help preserve ecosystems, reduce landfill waste, and lower our carbon footprint. The best practices for paper reduction listed below can make a big impact on campus sustainability by supporting waste diversion and procurement goals.

Recycling and Reusing Paper

  • Reuse paper that is printed on only one side
  • Paper must be recycled after use
  • Departments should collect and reuse print publications
  • Paper, including office supplies and copy paper, must meet 30% post-consumer recycled content and aim for 100%, per UC Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.

Electronic Alternatives to Paper

  • Replace written documents and correspondence with electronic versions
  • Make electronic handouts and forms available to read, complete, and submit electronically
  • Campus newsletters, catalogs, and magazines should be distributed electronically
  • All print publications should have a method for subscribers to opt out of a hard copy delivery.
  • Telephone directories must be made available electronically

Electronic Alternatives to Paper in Clinics and Health Settings

  • Upload patient records received via fax (which come electronically as PDFs) into Epic using the Media Manager functionality instead of printing paper PDF faxes for physical scanning
  • Promote the use of paperless prescriptions by:
    • Having staff offer paperless as an option with each prescription;
    • Or make paperless the default (for patients who have MyChart) and offer the option to “opt out” of receiving paper medication information.
  • Print after-visit summaries for patients double-sided
  • Send after-visit summaries through MyChart when applicable
  • Use the paperless electronic patient list system in EMR 

Sustainable Printing Practices

  • If printed documents are necessary, minimize the amount of paper by reducing the margin size, font size, and printing double-sided
  • Set default settings on copier and printer to double-sided printing, use recycled paper, and reduce copying and printing
  • Minimize unnecessary printing of handouts and forms
  • Campus newsletters, catalogs, and magazines, if printed, should be on recycled content paper
  • Departments should limit multiple print copies and instead post a single copy for review.
  • Vendors should be discouraged from mass distribution of paper catalogs to the campus.
  • Employees are encouraged to opt out of mailing lists for vendor catalogs by contacting the vendor directly. 

How to Recycle  

Recycling helps reduce our environmental impact by keeping materials out of the landfill and using the material instead of virgin material to make new products. 

Recycling information can be found on our A-Z Recycling Guides for the Sacramento and Davis campuses. 

If you live on campus, please use the Student Housing Waste Diversion Guides. 

If you have specific recycling questions not addressed on any of these resources, please email us at:

How to Compost  

Composting keeps food and other compostable material out of the landfills, avoiding the generation of a potent greenhouse gas called methane. The composting process results in a rich soil amendment. When you compost, you’re not only helping fight climate change, you’re also making something new that has multiple benefits when applied back to the earth.  

You can find a compost bin in several of our Davis campus buildings, with more additions expected as part of a pilot expansion. Compost bins are also located outdoors near foodservice areas on the Davis campus such as the Silo, Memorial Union, and Scrubs Café. Look for the standard green color and compost signs.  

What to compost

Common campus items that go into the compost bin include but are not limited to: 

  • Food waste (e.g. leftover food, bones, banana peels, coffee grounds) 
  • Pizza boxes (no plastic pizza tables) 
  • Paper foodservice products (e.g. paper plates, cups, napkins, trays) 
  • Wood utensils and items (e.g. chopsticks) 
  • Compostable plastic containers and utensils (must be labeled as #7 PLA or certified compostable)  

 

Please be sure to remove any plastic (e.g. film/wrap, condiment packages, small plastic sauce containers), metal (e.g. staples in paper bags) or compostable materials that have been contaminated by hazardous materials (e.g. paint).