Theme: Waste Diversion & Reduction

These projects focus on how to reduce the amount of waste produced on campus, encourage behavior changes that reduce waste production, or explore avenues of recycling/compost/reuse that allow us to lower our campus's waste footprint. 

Vermicomposting

Project Description

In efforts to better campus' waste management practices and improve waste-related knowledge and transparency, UC Berkeley affiliates are working towards developing the capacity to process all of campus’ organic waste matter in-house. Due partially to permitting restrictions, but also to ensure diverse methodology and research opportunities, the group will be introducing the following three different composting systems: 1) The first is an experimental aquaponics system, inspired by Sacramento State's. This innovative and newly developed system offers research...

Integrated Plastics Recycling

Project Description

This research facility, located at the Richmond Field Station, north of Berkeley, will process the University's plastic and recycling waste through proper collection, sorting, and redistribution. This project will allow for the UC Berkeley to expand recycling and reuse programs, reduce its carbon footprint, and create research and education opportunities for students and the community of Richmond. The team is working to incorporate 3-D printing into the project by reprocessing our plastic waste into 3-D printing filament.

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​Ethical and Accessible E-Waste Recycling at UC Berkeley

Project Description

This project seeks to implement and institutionalize a streamlined e-waste recycling system on campus where none was accessible to students before. Student staff will spearhead an education campaign detailing the environment and economic impacts of e-waste, meant to support the campus-wide Zero Waste by 2020 goals. The recycling system is meant to be modular, and will be highly responsive to feedback from facilities, faculty, students, and other stakeholders.

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Waste Diversion in University Village

Project Description

University Village will remedy the mismatch in messaging around the Zero Waste goal and public waste infrastructure by using TGIF funds to replace single-bin trash cans in the Village’s public spaces with three-compartment Max-R bins. These bins, which have prominent visual signage for each compartment and thus have high collective visual impact, will serve as a launch point for renewed and sustained educational outreach to improve waste separation and diversion.

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Rentable Reusables

Project Description

The ASUC Internal Department of Sustainability (IDS) intends to purchase a set of dining ware (plates, bowls, cups, silverware, etc.) for Cal Catering to store and rent out to Berkeley student organizations so that they can host zero waste events and meetings.

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Repair for ReUSE Clinic

Project Description

Inspired by Patagonia’s Worn Wear program and Bay Area Fixit Clinics, Cal Zero Waste, in partnership with UC Berkeley’s student organization ReUSE, proposes to establish a Repair clinic housed in the ReUSE store located at Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building beginning August 2018 for primarily UC Berkeley affiliated students, staff, and faculty. In compliance with the UCwide Zero Waste by 2020 goal, this project aims to reduce the amount of textile waste accruing from clothing damage by hiring a team under CZW to operate the clinic and collaborate with...

Standardization of Waste Sorting Signage within UC Berkeley Residence Halls

Project Description

Project plans to standardize and improve waste sorting signate in residence halls, to support incoming students in proper waste sorting practices, ensure consistency and clarity in messaging, and educate and inform students about waste sorting at UC Berkeley.

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Zero Waste Fellow

Project Description

At UC Berkeley, over a dozen organizations (both departmental and student-led) work on waste-related issues. Until 2019, collaboration and communication among them was minimal and ineffective. The Zero Waste Coalition was established in Fall 2019 to allow for successful collaboration among organizations and to mobilize educational campaigns reaching over 5,000 students. Strong leadership within the zero waste community is vital to its continued progress, and the creation of the Zero Waste Fellow position (similar to Carbon...

Recycling on Campus Tennis Courts

Project Description

Funding will allow for the purchase of recycling bins for 21 campus tennis courts and the implementation of education, outreach, and donation programs for recycling and reuse of tennis equipment.

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Connie and Kevin Chou Hall Zero Waste Certification

Project Description

In 2017, Haas unveiled its newest building, the Connie & Kevin Chou Hall, an 80,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to student learning. The building embodies Haas’s defining principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. Designed for LEED Platinum and WELL certifications, Connie & Kevin Chou Hall will also be the first business school building registered to attain Zero Waste certification by Summer 2018. The building will serve as a model for environmental sustainability...