How Do I: Recycle and Compost

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).