Recycling

Introduction

The A.S. Recycling Program is operated and funded by the students at the University of California Santa Barbara in order to provide an efficient and lasting recycling infrastructure that adapts to the progress of technology.

A.S. Recycling strives to close the loop, ending the waste cycle, by reducing consumption, reusing new materials, and most importantly, buying recycled materials at the outset.

Recycling Moves Its Office

Perhaps the biggest new for Recycling this year is that they’ve moved. After working out of a portable trailer for 4.5 years, AS Recycling’s lease ran out and the group moved its office space into Building 437 in the Facilities yard. While the new location is a bit smaller, it is definitely a lot nicer and allows students to work more closely with the other Facilities staff on campus waste management issues. Most importantly, Recycling still has the same easy access to its outdoor center of operations, the Eucalyptus Grove, so students can still keep all of UCSB’s waste sorted and keep it out of the landfill!

Workshops

The program includes a keeping-it-local component, which offers workshops that are part of the larger effort to reduce our carbon footprint and build sustainable communities. This year’s workshops included:

From Garbage to Garden

During Winter Quarter participants learned how the Department of Public Worms (DPW) composts campus and IV waste and how to use this compost and compost “tea” in their gardens. They also learned how to build a compost bin and produce compost tea from food waste at home. To top it off there was a demonstration on how to plant strawberry seedlings. All of this took place at the Recycling Grove. The session included a raffle. Prizes included compost tea, a compost bin, and strawberry starter sprouts to take home.

More about Recycling events here.

Compostable Waste Collection

Recycling expanded its campus-wide collection system for compostable waste. Bins around campus accept both food waste and compostable packaging.