How to dispose of special waste items that do not belong in regular bins
Universal, electronic, and hazardous waste must be specially disposed of due to the potential harm to the environment and human health. Learn how to appropriately dispose of your specialty waste items. Campus departments may also find materials that cannot fit into the regular waste receptacles and can find resources here.
Note for students & the local community: Visit the Los Angeles Sanitation S.A.F.E. Center located at UCLA for disposal of universal, electronic, and hazardous waste, including medicine. If you are living on the Hill, you may bring universal waste to your residential hall lobbies for disposal. The resources listed below are campus departments, with the exception of textile recycling, which is available to all. More information on the S.A.F.E. Center can be found on their website.
Universal Waste
Universal waste is a sub-category of hazardous waste, and must be properly disposed. Under California regulation, items in the universal waste category cannot be disposed in the compost, recycling, or landfill waste streams due to the presence of mercury, lead, cadmium or other substances harmful to the environment and human health.
Used Household Batteries
Small amounts can be sent via Campus Mail to Mail Code 152608. Please package in a sealed envelope or box and label “Batteries for Recycling”.
Large producer on campus? Submit a Recycling Request Form to request a battery bin or schedule a battery bin pick-up.
Non-State funded buildings must submit a Facilities Service Request for pick-up.
Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
Submit an Electronic Waste Recycling Request Form. Please review the instructions in the form as well as the accepted vs. non-accepted materials. CDs and DVDs are accepted as electronic waste. Learn more about accepted materials.
Ink & Toner Cartridges
15 or fewer ink toners & cartridges can be sent in one batch via Campus Mail with Mail Code 152608. Please package in a sealed box and label “Printer Ink for Recycling”. You can also send back to manufacturers if a take-back program is available.
Submit an FSR if you have 15+ cartridges.
Non-State funded buildings must submit a Facilities Service Request for pick-up.
Light Bulbs
Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes contain mercury and must be disposed of properly. This includes CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). Submit an Facilities Service Request for pick-up by the Electrical Shop. Facilities will also pick up LED lights. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs can be landfilled. Learn more about light bulb types.
Paint
Contact the UCLA EH&S Hazardous Waste Division for help managing paint.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is considered waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic, such as but not limited to: chemicals, sharps, and lab waste. It also includes the accompanying documents ensuring destruction.
For more information on hazardous waste, visit CalRecycle.
For assistance disposing of hazardous waste on campus, contact UCLA Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Hazwaste Team.
Specialty Disposal
Some materials do not fit in the typical waste bin and are not considered universal or hazardous waste. Facilities Management provides options for campus departments for these materials listed below.
Bulky Items, Furniture, and Other Large Reusables
For on campus, state-funded buildings, you may submit a Recycling Request Form if five (5) or fewer bulky items and five (5) or fewer bags of waste.
Submit a Facilities Service Request if you need a clean-out, have more than 5 items, or are not included in the above criteria.
For issues with active property ID tags, please contact Material Management.
Refrigerators, Freezers, and Other Units with Freon
The Freon must be removed prior to disposal and must be completed by Facilities Management. Please submit a Facilities Service Request requesting ‘Freon Removal’. Once you have a Work Order #, submit a Recycling Request Form for bulky items and attach the Work Order # to the unit for removal. There will be no additional cost for removal of the actual unit.
Lab Glass (Broken and Intact)
All lab glass (broken included) can be recycled by placing in a sealed, labeled box. The box can be marked “Lab Glass for Recycling” and left in the corridor for daily servicing. Any cardboard box is acceptable so long as it is intact and can hold the contents safely for the custodians to dispose. For the safety of our custodians, do not overload the lab glass boxes with more than 15lbs of glass.
If you have large amounts greater than 15lbs or multiple boxes, please submit a Facilities Service Request.
Books (Hardbound and paperpack)
If your department is clearing out hardbound books, or books in large amounts, submit a Facilities Service Request so that Facilities can arrange for a safe disposal, as it can be dangerous for custodians to lift heavy weights. These books will be brought to a specialized book recycling bin for proper disposal.
Cardboard
Small amounts must be broken down and flat. It can be placed next to the blue recycling receptacles in the building for pick-up.
Submit a Facilities Service Request for large-amounts.
Metal (Industrial or Lab)
Submit a Facilities Service Request.
Textiles
Textiles, such as clothing and scraps, can be recycled at three locations on the Hill. These locations are outside and can be accessed at any time.
- Sunset Plaza, next to the elevator entrance to mail room
- Rieber Court across from Rendezvous
- Hedrick Court outside of Hedrick Summit
Construction Waste
Submit a Facilities Service Request for pick-up.
Note: 72 hours’ advanced notice required.
Wood Pallets
For no more than two pallets submit a Recycling Request Form for free pick-up. Pallets only. Submit a Facilities Service Request for all other large wooden materials or for large amounts of pallets.
Note: 72 hours’ advanced notice required.