Recycling and Composting at UC Berkeley

Solid waste is a growing problem in this country and has multiple environmental impacts. Waste that is not recycled or composted must be transported to landfills for disposal, and there is also an associated carbon footprint-from the methane generated when waste degrades and the emissions produced through transport. The campus has steadily increased the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills through recycling and composting.

UC Berkeley has made significant progress in increasing the amount of organic waste that is composted, increasing the tonnage composted by nearly 50% since 2005 and 100% since 2000. The campus continues to increase the amount of material recycled, although a significant amount of mixed paper is still not being recycled. The campus has made huge strides in salvaging demolition and construction wastes and has been able to salvage upwards of 80%-90% of such waste. Including construction waste in the UC Berkeley diversion rate means that the campus has achieved a 57% diversion rate, exceeding the 2008 goal of 50%.