Waste Management

The Office of Waste Management (OWM) strives to provide timely and efficient removal of solid waste generated at UMass Amherst, and, to process and dispose of these wastes in the least harmful way to the natural environment, the University community and the public.

We follow the Integrated Solid Waste Management approach which holds that garbage is not a homogenous mass to be burned or buried and then forgotten. Instead, "garbage" consists of a heterogeneous spectrum of discarded materials and products each with specific characteristics and properties which make them more or less suitable for reuse, recycling , composting or disposal. ISWM asserts that the environment endures the least harm and receives the most benefit when garbage is reduced, reused, composted, incinerated with energy recovery and lastly put in the landfill.

Cardboard

We make money on recycled cardboard!

Recycling

Where To Recycle

Recycle Bottles, Cans and Paper

Beyond Bottles, Cans and Paper

OWM receives revenue for cardboard, single stream and scrap metal. Please contact us at 413.545.9615 if you have any questions about the guide below.

Item/Material	Description	Procedure
Appliances	Toasters, microwaves, etc.	Deliver to WRTF or call for pick-up. See refrigeration units below.
Asphalt, Brick and Concrete	Keep sorted as much as possible	Deliver to WRTF and ask for appropriate storage bunker. If there is a large quantity of this material, call OWM for pick-up.
Alkaline Batteries	Dispose of akaline batteries in trash. Not recyclable.
Mercury, Cadmium, Nickel-Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion Batteries	Appliance and electronics batteries:Mercury, Cadmium, Nickel-Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion Auto/marine/emergency lighting batteries:	Deliver or send to WRTF via campus mail, marked "batteries for recycling." Terminal ends should be taped. Deliver to WRTF or call for pickup
Books	Hardcover: Softcover:	Deliver to WRTF or call for pickup If small quantity, place in single stream bins. If large quantity, deliver to WRTF or call for pickup.
Textiles	Clothes, shoes, hats, accessories:	Donate it to the Baystate Textile Boxes located in by Brooks Hall in Central and Hampden in Southwest year-round. Check New2U on the Sustainability Website for updated information.
Electronics	Computer systems, electronic measuring intruments or A/V equipment:	Deliver to WRTF or call for pickup; must be accompanied by Surplus Equipment Disposal Form (SED)
Food	Canned or dry goods:	Watch for Residence Life’ special Nu2u spring collections (move out time). Otherwise, call Amherst Survival Center to see if they will take it.
Fluorescent Tubes	Straight, circular, U-tubes, HIDs and compacts Incandescent bulbs may be placed in trash.	Deliver to WRTF in original box with the cushioning material removed. Custodial or electrical shops should handle removal & delivery.
Furniture	Depending on quality and composition, may go to recycling or disposal.	Deliver to WRTF and ask for instructions, OR, call for pickup. If purchase value =>$1,000, must provide a completed Surplus Equipment Disposal Form (SED)
Metal Scrap	All types, free of contaminants (e.g. asbestos, free flowing paint, motor oils, or more than incidental amounts of plastic or wood)	Deliver to WRTF or call for a pickup
Paint, Stain, Lacquers, Varnish	Only sealed non-leaking containers. Empty metal paint cans (<1" in bottom and dry) may go in scrap metal roll-off.	Deliver to WRTF and ask for instructions or call to OWM to schedule a pickup.
Pallets and Wood	Separate pallets/clean wood from treated, painted, stained, pressure-treated, creosoted/laminated woods.	Deliver to WRTF or call for pickup
Propane, Refrigerant Tanks	After proper preparation (see next column) may be placed in metal pile at WRTF.	Call EH&S at 5-2682 to have cores removed before delivery to WRTF.
Refrigeration Units	Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and water fountains for scrap metal recycling.	If purchase value is = or > $1,000, prepare a Surplus Equipment Disposal Form (SED) and call 545-2704 to arrange a pick up..Or deliver to WRTF.
Styrofoam #6	Styrofoam #6 goes in the waste and is not recyclable. See pictures of plastic #6 also known as styrofoam. White, #6 Only! See LINK for acceptable & unacceptable types. Peanuts are accepted at UPS or Mailboxes Etc.	May be set aside in a clear bag for Custodial Svcs.collection (not in dorms/DCs). Or, deliver to WRTF.
Tires	Used car and truck tires (tires off rims) for recycling or energy recovery.	Deliver to WRTF or call for a pick-up. Only sources should be Fleet Services, Transit and Housing Services.
Toner Cartridges	For Recycling and reuse:	May be sent to WRTF via campus mail. Please mark "toner cartridge to recycle." See LINK for packaging instructions

Office Clean-Outs

Cleaning out your office? Look up the paper type on the chart below to determine where the item goes.

Paper Type	Where It Goes
Bound Papers	Remove paper from binder or spiral, then place in green or blue recycling bin
Books	Hardcover - call for special pick-up or drop off at WRTF. Softcover - remove and dispose covers, then place in recycling bin
Blueprints	Place in trash bin
Brown Clasp Envelopes	Place in recycling bin
Catalogs	Place in recycling bin. Call for pick-up if there are large quantities
Carbon Paper	Old style carbon paper should be placed in trash
Carbonless Copy Paper	Place in recycling bin
Fax Paper	Old style thermal paper should be placed in trash. Other fax paper should be placed in recycling bin.
Hanging File Folders	If the metal hangers are removed place in recycling bin, otherwise place in trash
Manilla and Colored File Folders	Place in recycling bin
Mylar Prints or Overhead Sheets	Place in trash
Post-its, Index and Business Cards	Place in recycling bin
Confidential Paper	Shredded paper should be placed in recycling bin. Non-shredded paper should be marked "confidential" and placed in your regular confidential bin, or call for pick-up. Please limit your designation "confidential" to those papers that absolutely require such designation.
Copy Paper Wrappers	Place in recycling bin
Envelopes With Windows	Place in recycling bin
Paper Board	Place in recycling bin
Postal Packaging	Place in trash

FAQs

Can I place the entire contents of an old file cabinet in the green or blue All-In-One recycling bin?

In Academic and Administrative offices, once you have culled plastic transparencies and large metal clips or hanging folder frames (staples and small paper clips are okay), you may place all the rest of the file contents in either your blue or green single stream recycling bin. See Office Clean-Outs.

What happens to the revenue Waste Management obtains from selling University recyclables?

All revenue obtained from the sale of University recyclables is directed to Physical Plant accounts where it offsets some of the operating costs of the waste management program. Over the past three years OWM has generated an average of $150,000 per year in revenues from the sale of recyclable commodities.

Can I bring recyclables and trash from home and drop off at the WTRF?

Waste from homes or businesses should NOT be deposited in the refuse or recycling bins at your place of work (office/shop/classroom etc.). No refuse from home or business should be brought to the WTRF. However, because they do not result in a net cost to the University, the following items may be brought to the WTRF: scrap metal, corrugated cardboard, office paper, books, laser toner cartridges, and electronics. But please call ahead for instructions.

Do bottles and cans for recycling have to be cleaned?

Bottles and cans should be empty and free of problem residues (pasty food residues, milk). A light rinsing and shaking with water or scraping with a rubber spatula may be required to accomplish this. OWM cautions not to waste water (especially hot water) rinsing food and beverage containers. By doing so, you will reduce - even cancel out, the energy and resource conservation benefits of recycling. Where feasible, use old rinse water leftover after washing dishes to clean bottles and cans.

Why can't I recycle egg cartons or paper issues and towels? They are paper aren't they?

The answer is twofold: First, contamination: while most individuals might ensure that their egg cartons are free of food residues, the likelihood that a significant percentage would not has led most paper processors to exclude these paper wastes from lists of acceptable materials.Secondly, there is little or no demand by the paper industry for these very low grade paper wastes which are comprised of poor quality fiber that is difficult to re-use.

How do I safely dispose of confidential papers?

If your office generates significant amounts of confidential documents, then place material in cardboard box or wheeled cart provided upon request by OWM, mark the container "CONFIDENTIAL FOR RECYCLING" and call OWM at 545-9615 to ask for special pick-up. You may also deliver your confidential documents to the WTRF, M-F 7:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Your papers will be shredded at the WTRF and then recycled. Please make an effort to identify confidential or sensitive documents for shredding. Do not simply make a wholesale transfer of the file cabinet contents into the confidential waste cart or box. If you require a certificate of destruction, then contact OWM about private vendors on state contract that can provide a completely secure destruction program.

Why are those white trash trucks used to collect bottles and cans and cardboard?

In addition to two large white refuse packer trucks, OWM operates two other packer trucks which, while built as refuse collection vehicles, have been converted and dedicated to the collection of Single Stream recyclables and Corrugated Cardboard. Not to worry! Your recyclables ARE headed for recycling!

Organic Waste

Food Waste At UMass

The Office of Waste Management uses Vanguard Renewables. In 2019 UMass Amherst shipped approximately 1,600 tons per year (3 million lbs) of food waste and other compostable material for on-farm composting.

We no longer sell compost.

What Can I Compost?

Use the Composting Locator Chart below to determine whether and what you may compost at your campus location.

Building	Food Waste (all types)	Leaves and Yard Waste	Animal Bedding
UMass DCs	Yes	No	No
Campus Retail Food Outlets	Yes	No	No
Res Halls Snack Bars	Yes	No	No
N. Apartments	Yes	No	No
Day Care	Yes	No	No
Some Green Offices	Yes	No	No

The Following Materials are "Delivered Only" to the Waste Facility (WRTF)

Leaves, Brush, Greenhouse Wastes and Animal Bedding are delivered only to WRTF. These materials are either picked up by OWM staff or delivered to the Waste Recovery and Transfer Facility by Grounds Dept. staff.

Waste

About Waste

Each year the Office of Waste Management tracks the recycling and refuse data for the campus. In 2021 recyclables total was 1619.26 tons. Refuse total was 995.70 tons. Learn more at UMass Amherst Sustainability Reports.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's 310 CMR 19.000 - Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations (specifically 310 CMR 19.017) prohibit Massachusetts solid waste management facilities, including those owned and operated by municipalities, from accepting the following recyclable and/or toxic items for disposal or transfer for disposal.

Waste Collection

The Office of Waste Management is responsible for waste collection at waste enclosures, pads or loading docks outside of all “campus”* buildings. Custodians are the link between the waste generator and OWM services. Academic custodians, Residence Hall custodians and Dining Commons custodians collect trash (and recycling or food waste) for placement at the above enclosures and loading docks.

Students must bring their waste outside to the trash collection area adjacent to the building: Central, Northeast, Lincoln and North Village. In all other Residence Halls, students drop off waste materials at the “trash” rooms located on each floor.

Waste and Recycling Building Contacts

For trash and recycling pickup, to request bins, or if you need something unusual picked up, contact the Facilities & Campus Services Customer Service Representative for your department. If you don’t know the Customer Service Representative for your department, you can refer to the Building Coordinator/Customer Service Representative List.

Waste Bans

Do not throw these items in the trash.

Recycle It

Glass Containers
Metal Containers
Recyclable Cardboard and Paper
Single Polymer Plastics

Compost It

Organic Waste
Commercial Organic Materials (eg. compostable plates etc.)
Leaves and Yard Waste

Bring it to the Waste Facility (WRTF)

Asphalt Pavement, Brick, Concrete, Metal and Wood
Cathode Ray Tubes
Lead Acid Batteries
Clean Gypsum Wallboard (Drywall)
Mattresses
Whole Tires
White Goods (Large Appliances)

Waste Facility

Waste Recovery and Transfer Facility

Drop-Off Procedure

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Material Destinations

Moving Services

How To Request Moving Services

Complete the SED Form

First you must complete the Surplus Equipment Disposal (SED) Form . Complete the SED Form for all items. Allow 2-4- weeks for processing and Moving Services pick-up.

After You Submit The SED Form

Physical Plant Environmental Health and Safety personnel receives and reviews the initial requests and separates them for entrance into an All Hazards Review or remittance to Moving Services
Requests of potential environmental concern are sent to EHS for inspection and clearance. Once cleared these requests are scheduled for pick up.
Requests deemed of no potential environmental concern are sent to Moving Services personnel where they are paced in queue for pickups.
Depending on value, condition and material, equipment picked up from campus is either placed in surplus storage off campus, recycled or disposed of.

Prepare For Moving Services Pick-Up

In order for Moving Services to complete a scheduled job on the appointed date, the customer must be completely packed (boxes closed, and marked -if applicable) when the crew arrives.

Small and simple moving jobs will normally be scheduled and completed within 3-4 weeks of scheduling.
Large or complicated moves usually require an on-site pre-move visit by OWM with a department representative and sometimes EH&S for the purpose of conducting an all hazard review
Packing boxes are available from Moving Services. Please request them. Boxes are available one week prior to the move and are expected to be ready for return to Moving Services no later than one week after the move completion. Although there is no charge for the use of moving boxes, the department must provide an account number (as a deposit).

Moving Services Not Provided

Pianos
Personal property moves between home and office
Event chairs (call private rental agency)
Furniture disassembly/assembly other than minor instances (for this service contact Customer Service or your Zone maintenance office)
Packing of boxes to be moved

Who Pays For Moves

Moves ordered by Space Management are generally funded by Space Management.
Moves required in order to provide building maintenance and repair are funded by Physical Plant.
Large departmental moves will be evaluated on a per-case basis.
Moves for organizations not involved directly or indirectly in academics are billable.

Contact

Contact Information

Visit Waste Reduction & Recycling on Sustainable UMass and learn about the popular New2U tag sale and New2U Thrift Store that opened in February 2025, how to donate office furniture or furnish your office through the Furniture Surplus Program, and watch our "Waste Not Warm Not" video.

New2U Tag Sale & Thrift Store New2U Tag Sale & Thrift Store Furniture Surplus & Lab Plastic Recycling Pilot Programs Furniture Surplus & Lab Plastic Recycling Pilot Programs