Office of Sustainability
Zero Waste
WHAT IS ZERO WASTE?
A system-wide approach that seeks to maximize recycling, minimize waste, reduce consumption, and ensure that products are designed to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into the environment or marketplace.
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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
According to the EPA in 2018, 292.4 million tons of municipal waste, with about 4.9 pounds per person daily was reported. All organic waste and trash, including plastic, usually ends up in a landfill, if not incinerated or in the ocean. As organic matter decomposes, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that impacts climate change and causes severe health conditions.
Our Mission
The University of Riverside is committed to achieving the University of California Office of the President’s Zero Waste goals. With the involvement of multiple campus entities we continue to strive to reduce municipal waste with an overall 90% waste diversion rate, phase out the sale, procurement, and distribution of single-use plastic in our campus.
Key Goals:
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Divert 90% of municipal solid waste from the landfill.
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Reduce per capita municipal solid waste generation to 25% below fiscal year 2015–16 levels by 2025, and 50% below fiscal year 2015–16 levels by 2030.
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Reduce and eliminate single-use plastics items such as bags, foodware accessory items and beverage bottles.
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Prohibit the sale, procurement and distribution of packaging foam by 2020.
Our Mission:
Zero waste, by EPA’s definition, is the conservation of products, packaging, and resources by means of responsible production, conservation, reuse, and recovery without exploiting natural resources like land, air, and water. When concerning the university, zero waste efforts include the involvement of various campus operations.
With the involvement of multiple campus entities, UC Riverside is committed to achieving the UCOP Zero Waste goal by 2020. By implementing recycling programs, an official Zero Waste Plan, and the numerous departmental programs, we continue to strive for an overall 90% waste diversion rate.
Diversion Rate (FY 2019)
In 2019, UCR generated roughly 5000 tons of waste for the entire year. Of this total, we diverted 72% of the municipal and construction waste from the landfill to recycling and composting facilities. UCR has also reduced the daily per capita waste generation by 15% of the FY 2015-16 levels.
For the past ten years, we have steadily increased our diversion rate by 10%. By continuing to better our recycling and composting programs along with investing in more “green” products, we strive to reach the set goal of 90% diversion rate by 2025.
DIY Tie-Dye Food Scraps Tutorial
UCR Dining
Waste Diversion is a top priority for Dining and they take seriously every opportunity to REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST.
They are currently working towards zero net waste and are focused on eliminating single-use plastics.
UCR Environmental Health & Safety
EH&S works to strengthen the culture of safety and responsibility across the campus community. Their Waste Management program helps us hazardous chemical, radioactive, biohazardous, and universal waste safely and legally.
R'Pantry
R’Pantry is the UC Riverside food pantry. It was created as a direct response to student need for more resources to fight food insecurity. Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner.
Campus Business Services
Document Shredding, E-Waste Disposal programs, and Recycling programs.
Student Housing
Learn about how UCR Student Housing is working towards sustainability.
Local Waste Resources
Our Programs
There are a number of programs at UCR that strive to have campus reach a UCOP set Zero Waste status by 2025. Under the below categories, you will find more details about the specific programs aiding in that zero waste initiative.