Commonly Asked Recycling Questions

Who should I call about recycling questions?
See Recycling Contacts

What is office pack?
Office pack is the "industry's" word for all recyclable paper including envelopes, staples, sticky notes, and colored paper. No goldenrod or fluorescent; these are contaminants. See "office pack" details. Use the dark green office pack bins in your main office area, and the "blue pitches" at your desk.

What is an outdoor recycling cluster?
The outdoor recycling cluster contains four separate bins for the following items: newspaper, aluminum and plastic #1 and #2, glass, and trash. These clusters are serviced by the AS Recyclers for the blue CEC dumpsters. These cluster containers were designed by the AS Recycling Program and Mary Ann Hopkins of Physical Facilities at UCSB, and made from all recycled materials. Other UC campuses and outside agencies have been inspired by these cluster containers, and have borrowed the design for their own use.

Where can I recycle newspaper?
Take all newspaper to the nearest outdoor recycling cluster. For large volumes please take to nearest newspaper dumpster. (See map)

Where can I recycle magazines?
Magazines can currently only be recycled at the magazine dumpster at Housing and Residential Services. (See map)

Where can I recycle cardboard?
Only corrugated cardboard (the stuff boxes are made of) can be recycled. Please flatten and take to the nearest cardboard dumpster. (See map)

Can I recycle shredded documents?
Yes, but you undermine the quality of the recycled material by shredding. A piece of paper recycled whole can be made into another piece of paper up to 7 or 8 times. Once a piece paper is shredded the fibers get cut and the quality is lowered and can only be used for cardboard fill, or other low grade paper usage.

Why only #1 and #2 plastics?
Only those plastics labeled #1 and #2 we're accepted until 2006. Now plastics labelled up to #7 can now be processed by the recycling center in Santa Barbara County.

Where can I recycle batteries?
Environmental Health & Safety will accept batteries from campus departments. Call EH&S, 893-3293, for details.

Where can I recycle hazardous waste?
Call Environmental Health & Safety, Campus Hazardous Waste, 893-3293, for specific details on disposing of hazardous waste.

Aluminum Foil?
Aluminum foil cannot be recycled with aluminum cans and is a contaminant if placed in recycling bins. It goes in the trash and ends up going in the landfill.

What's the deal with non-recyclable UCEN cups?
Santa Barbara County does not recycle any type of plastic cup. Even if the UCEN. were to purchase #1 or 2 plastic cups they would still be non-recyclable. Solution: Bring your own UCEN mug for a $.20 discount on all brewed coffee and fountain drinks.

What do I do with my old phone books?
Once a year during fall quarter Central Stores will deliver your new phone book to a main office or stock room. About week later they will pick up your old phone book at the same location. Phone books are recycled by the telephone company.

What do I do with old textbooks and catalogs?
Textbooks and catalogs may be recycled at one location only on UCSB campus; this is the second green cardboard dumpster behind the Davidson Library; this is the only location.

What's all the talk about co-mingling vs. separating recyclables?
Co-mingling means collecting two or more types of materials in one receptacle to be sorted later. Co-mingling is more convenient and saves space, but the quality and quantity of recycled products produced from co-mingled sources is reduced, and is labor instensive.
UCSB (in state funded buildings maintained by Facilities) has source -separated collection except for co-mingled aluminum and plastics (#1 - 7). Although most residents in Santa Barbara County have co-mingled collection, UCSB has continued with its source separation in recognition of the importance of preserving the quality of their recycled materials, is an integral part of "closing the recycling loop".

If it's not going to the landfill, where does it go?
Once the materials make it into the appropriate recycling receptacle they are taken to the blue recycling dumpsters which are provided and serviced by the Marborg Industries based in Santa Barbara.