The USF Recycles program collects commingled recyclables including all
grades of paper, cans, glass, cardboard, and all rigid plastics.
Program highlights include:
- Desk Side Recycling in all Offices
- Recycling in all Residence Halls and Common Building Areas (over 200 locations)
- Composting in all Dining Services Locations
- Composting in select Residence Halls (program to expand)
- Landscape Greenwaste Composting
Three offices within Facilities Management coordinate solid waste management at the University of San Francisco. The Environmental Safety Office manages the education and outreach component of USF Recycles. Desk side recycling (which provides trash and recycling collection at every campus desk) is accomplished through the use of our custodial staff and managed through the Custodial Office, and campus-wide trash collection of from external receptacles (from 32-gallon cans through 3-yd dumpsters) is staffed by a full-time crew managed through the Office of Waste Management.
Recycling efforts at the University of San Francisco have a long history. Prior to 1988, a grassroots movement of undergraduate students began placing receptacles in strategic locations around campus to collect recyclable materials. Eventually this group of students gave rise to USF Recycles. On the campus there are now over 200 common area locations within buildings with recycling service. In 2007 we added landscaping and food service composting in our main cafeteria and will soon expand this to all residence halls and certain non-residence hall buildings. Recently, USF Recycles transitioned to full-time staff to handle the demands of an increasing volume of recycling and compost.
Approximately 396 tons of materials are recycled and 576 tons of food and landscaping are composted each year. Added together, the campus diversion rate is about 64%. This means that of all the solid waste generated (recycling, compost, and trash combined) we divert 64% of it to a reusable option (not dumped in a landfill). USF is among the national leaders in recycling and composting in a city that leads the nation in these efforts. We are constantly striving to improve with the help and support of our students, staff and faculty.
