Recycling Guide
Click on an item below to learn the proper recycling procedure.
- Batteries
- Bottles and Cans
- Cardboard
- E-waste
- Food Waste
- Glass
- Green Waste
- Hazardous Waste
- Keys
- Kitchen Grease
- Light Bulbs
- Metal/Wood
- Paper
- Personal Mobile Phones
- Plastic
- Refrigerators
- Shredded Paper
- Special Events
- Spring Move-Out
- Textbooks
- Toners/Cartridges
- Other Arrangements
Batteries
Please send used batteries in an inter-department mail envelope to Environmental Health & Safety in ADM 260 for recycling. For large batteries or batteries not listed below, please call EH&S at 415/338-2565 for on-campus drop-off sites.
Batteries accepted: A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, nickel zinc, lithium ion, small sealed lead batteries, rechargeable batteries and batteries from the following electronic devices: two way radios, cell phones, cordless phones, laptop computers, portable power tools, hand held scanners, field monitoring/research equipment, exit signage, backup batteries (UPS), emergency lighting, instrumentation, medical equipment, security/fire alarm systems.
To recycle personal batteries, the Student Bookstore has a battery collection area located in their battery section or for a list of neighborhood drop-off sites, see SFEnvironment's EcoFinderrr.
Bottles and Cans
All bottles, cans, paper, and hard plastic items go in the blue recycling bins around campus. We have Single Stream (Co-mingled) Recycling on campus and the items are collected together.
Plastic films like bags or food wrapers are not recyclable and should go in the black trash bin destined for the landfill.
Paper plates, paper towels, napkins, other food-soiled paper containters can be collected in composts containers near Cesar Chavez Student Center, the Vista Room, and City Eats.
Cardboard
Cardboard should be flattened and placed in the general recycling bins. Small amounts of cardboard can be placed next to the blue deskside recycling bin for custodial pick-up. Large amounts should be brought to the blue recycling bin outside your building.
E-Waste
Old University-issued mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and their related batteries and chargers should be mailed interdepartmental to Caitlin Steele at the Recycling Center. For items at home, please check our Resources for local options.
The Division of IT has information on safeguarding information for old computers. Please follow procedure for property tag relocation or removal.
Nonworking electronics may be taken to the Recycling Center, for large amounts please enter a work request for a pick-up. Other Items including TVs, VCRs, printers, and miscellaneous items can be taken to the SWAP Shop. For large amounts, please enter a service request to schedule a pick-up.
Food Waste
All food waste is compostable, there are composting stations located in the Cesar Chavez Student Center. The Student Center, City Eats, and The Vista Room compost all of their food waste in the kitchens.
Glass
Place broken glass, beakers, test tubes, mirrors, etc, into a plastic bag, and then place the bag into a box. Please label the box "Broken Glass" and place in trash bin. This material is not collectable as recyclable. Common beverage glass bottles can be placed in your standard blue recycling bin.
Green Waste
Green waste is collected by Grounds Staff. It is then picked up by Sunset Scavenger as part of their composting program.
For large pickups or special arrangements, contact the Recycling Center at 415/405-3868 or submit a service request.
Hazardous Waste
Please contact Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) at 415/338-2565 or via email at riskmgmt@sfsu.edu for hazardous waste guidelines. Hazardous waste includes such items as cleaning supplies, automotive parts, oils, and paint.
Keys
Keys made on campus can be sent to Work Control in Facilities for recycling or reuse.
Kitchen Grease
The Cesar Chavez Student Center and City Eats Dining Center collect waste kitchen grease for pick-up. This is used by San Francisco to create bio-diesel for the city vehicle fleet.
Light bulbs
Fluorescent tubes are collected by Custodial (CSS) staff to be disposed of properly.
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) should be dropped off for EH&S at the Administration Building room 252. If you have a boxful or more, call EH&S at campus extension 82565 to request pick-up.
Metal/Wood
For large pickups or special arrangements, contact the Recycling Center at 415/405-3868 or submit a service request.
Paper
All bottles, cans, paper, and hard plastic items go in the blue recycling bins around campus. We have Single Stream (Co-mingled) Recycling on campus and the items are collected together.
Plastic films like bags or food wrapers are not recyclable and should go in the black trash bin destined for the landfill.
Paper plates, paper towels, napkins, other food-soiled paper containters can be collected in composts containers near Cesar Chavez Student Center, the Vista Room, and City Eats.
Personal Mobile Phones
Several options are available for disposal of used personal mobile phones on campus. These may be delivered to either one of the following locations.
- Drop off at The Village Fitness Center, Club One.
- Drop off at Environmental Health & Safety, Administration Building room 252.
Plastic
All bottles, cans, paper, and hard plastic items go in the blue recycling bins around campus. We have Single Stream (Co-mingled) Recycling on campus and the items are collected together.
Plastic films like bags or food wrapers are not recyclable and should go in the black trash bin destined for the landfill.
Paper plates, paper towels, napkins, other food-soiled paper containters can be collected in composts containers near Cesar Chavez Student Center, the Vista Room, and City Eats.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators and freezers have components that can be hazardous or toxic. Please contact Work Control at 415/338-1568 for assistance with properly disposing of these items.
Shredded Paper
Shredded paper can be left in paper bags and put into a blue deskside recycling bin, blue toter or large outdoor bin for recyclables.
Shredded paper in plastic bags is NOT acceptable.
Sensitive and/or Confidential Documents are handled by department through an off campus vendor. A specific container should be provided by your department.
Special Events
If you are going to host a special event on campus that is going to generate waste or recyclable material please contact Caitlin Steele at 415/405-3868. The Recycling Resource Center can help you create a green, Zero Waste event.
Spring Move-Out
Please look for signs in the residence halls explaining recycling and reuse programs for a Sustainable Move Out.
Textbooks
Please take your textbooks to the SFSU Bookstore, located in the Cesar Chavez Student Center, during the Book Buy-Back program at the end of each semester.
Recent editions of textbooks can be donated to charitable organizations. Please contact the Recycling Center for more details.
Toners/Cartridges
Toners/cartridges should be mailed in the pre-paid envelope provided by the company. If this is not an option, please place all used toners in their original box, or replacement box, and place it next to your central office recycling bin. It will be picked up by Custodial staff and recycled. If you have more than 5 used toner cartridges, please enter a work request for a pick-up.
Inkjet cartridges are also collected at the computer section of the Bookstore. If you have a few cartridges please place them in an inter-departmental mail envelope and send them to the Recycling Center.
Other Arrangements
If you are going to host a special event on campus that is going to generate waste or recyclable material please contact Caitlin Steele at 415/405-3868. The Recycling Resource Center can help you create a green, Zero Waste event.
