UCLA Electronic Waste Disposal: A Comprehensive Guide to Sustainable Practices

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is committed to environmental stewardship through comprehensive recycling and waste management programs. These programs are designed to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability within the campus community and beyond. This guide outlines the proper procedures for disposing of electronic, universal, and hazardous waste at UCLA, ensuring compliance with regulations and supporting the university’s ambitious waste reduction goals.

Understanding Waste Categories

To effectively manage waste, it is crucial to understand the different categories and their specific disposal requirements. UCLA categorizes waste into universal, electronic, and hazardous streams, each requiring special handling due to potential environmental and health risks.

Universal Waste

Universal waste is a subcategory of hazardous waste that includes items such as batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. These items contain materials that can be harmful if not properly managed. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) now handles battery collection. For fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, which contain mercury, a Facilities Service Request should be submitted for pick-up by the Electrical Shop. Facilities will also pick up LED lights. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs can be landfilled. If you are living on the Hill, you may bring universal waste to your residential hall lobbies for disposal.

Electronic Waste

Electronic waste, or e-waste, encompasses a wide range of discarded electronic devices. UCLA accepts CDs and DVDs as electronic waste. To dispose of e-waste, an Electronic Waste Recycling Request Form must be submitted, following the instructions provided in the form to ensure proper handling of accepted materials.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste includes materials that are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic, such as chemicals, sharps, and lab waste. It also includes the accompanying documents ensuring destruction. Proper disposal is essential to prevent environmental contamination and health hazards.

Disposal Guidelines for Specific Materials

UCLA provides specific guidelines for disposing of various materials to ensure they are handled safely and sustainably.

Lab Glass

All lab glass, including broken pieces, can be recycled by placing it in a sealed, labeled box. The box should be marked “Lab Glass for Recycling” and left in the corridor for daily servicing by custodians. Any intact cardboard box that can safely hold the contents is acceptable. For large amounts (greater than 15 lbs) or multiple boxes, a Facilities Service Request should be submitted.

Books

When departments are clearing out hardbound books or large quantities of books, a Facilities Service Request should be submitted. This allows Facilities to arrange for safe disposal, as lifting heavy weights can be dangerous for custodians.

Textiles

Textiles, such as clothing and scraps, can be recycled at three locations on the Hill.

Pallets

For no more than two pallets, a Recycling Request Form should be submitted for free pick-up.

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Leveraging Campus Resources for Waste Disposal

UCLA offers several resources to facilitate proper waste disposal and recycling.

S.A.F.E. Centers

UCLA partners with the City of Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN) to provide S.A.F.E. Centers (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) for the disposal of universal, electronic, and hazardous waste, including medicine. The Los Angeles Sanitation S.A.F.E. Center located at UCLA for disposal of universal, electronic, and hazardous waste, including medicine.

Facilities Service Requests

For items requiring special handling or large quantities of waste, UCLA encourages the submission of Facilities Service Requests. This ensures that trained personnel handle the waste safely and efficiently.

UCLA Zero Waste Team

The UCLA Zero Waste team actively promotes waste reduction and diversion goals. They partner with the Community Programs Office (CPO) Food Closet to provide meals to students experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste in the process.

Waste Accumulation Storage Tracking (WASTe) System

UCLA utilizes the UC system-wide Waste Accumulation Storage Tracking system, known as WASTe, for managing hazardous chemical waste in laboratories. This system ensures compliance with EPA regulations and promotes safe waste handling practices.

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WASTe Labeling Steps

Generate a tag label using the WASTe Portal.
Place the label in a clear envelope pouch.
Designate a Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) in the lab for storing hazardous chemical waste. Waste can only be stored for 90 days.

SAA Requirements

Waste should not be stored under sinks. Limited quantities of waste can be stored in a fume hood if it does not impede functionality.
Waste should be collected/stored near the point of generation.
Periodically check the condition of waste containers for signs of leaks, corrosion, or deterioration.

Maximum Waste Amounts in an SAA

Amount	Type	Notes
55 gallon	Regular hazardous chemical waste	Submit for disposal within 3 days
1 quart	Extremely hazardous waste	Submit for disposal within 3 days.
Container > 4L	Flammable solvents	Store within flammable storage cabinet

These limits are based on EPA regulations and California Fire Code (CFC) requirements.

Container Requirements

Containers must be free of exterior contamination.
Containers must be labeled with a WASTe tag at all times.
Containers must be chemically compatible with the material stored.
Containers must be of a suitable size for the material stored.
Containers must be closed when not in use.
Cardboard should never be used for waste storage.

UCLA's Commitment to Zero Waste

UCLA is dedicated to achieving zero waste through various initiatives and partnerships.

Single-Use Plastics Policy

UCLA is pursuing the elimination of single-use plastics on campus, adhering to both the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices and UCLA’s own Single-Use Plastics Policy, which imposes stricter bans than the UC-wide policy.

Sustainability Plan

The University addresses Zero Waste in the recent campus wide Sustainability Plan by outlining diversion and reduction goals.

Partnership with Athens Services

UCLA and Athens Services have been zero waste partners since 2008, collaborating on landfill avoidance. They recently produced an educational video to promote the importance of UCLA’s source-separation waste program.

Move Out Waste Diversion Program

June marked the first year UCLA engaged in a large scale move out event to collect usable goods that would otherwise be disposed of. Being the first year this program will be evolving as we work to scale it, you can find information about what went on last year at the Move Out Resources webpage. Once information for next year is set, you will be able to find drop off days at that link.

Community Involvement and Education

UCLA recognizes that achieving its waste reduction goals requires the participation of the entire campus community.

Bruin Bites

The Bruin Bites program provides campus community members with notifications about when free food is available, reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity.

Educational Initiatives

UCLA actively promotes waste sorting and recycling through educational videos and outreach programs.

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