Campus Waste Guidelines
Please help UMass Amherst reduce waste by following the Campus Waste Guidelines for Food Waste, Recyclables, and Landfill Waste (Trash).
What Goes in the Bins?
New2U Sustainable Move-Out Collection and Move-In Tag Sale
The New2U program collects unwanted items each spring during move-out and resells these collected items each fall during a one day move-in tag sale.
Introducing UMass Amherst's New Furniture Surplus Website!
Campus Planning has launched the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Furniture Surplus Website—an innovative online platform designed to facilitate the exchange of used furniture within our vibrant campus community. Whether you're looking to donate furniture you no longer need or seeking quality items to furnish your space, this program aims to promote sustainability, reduce waste, and foster a spirit of sharing among faculty and staff.
Lab Plastic Recycling Pilot Program
We have partnered with Polycarbin to launch a pipette tip box recycling pilot program in LSL and ISB. There are collection bins located throughout each building (2nd and 4th floors of ISB and on most floors of LSL both north and south sides). Polycarbin is a Massachusetts-based recycler and manufacturer of lab plastics, which means: You're keeping it local!, You're keeping it out of the landfill! You're keeping it circular (pipette tip boxes are recycled back into lab plastics)!
We are accepting: clean, empty pipette tip boxes, lids, and wafers.
We are NOT accepting: Pipette tips, Cardboard, Shrink wrap, Tape/Adhesives, Glass/Metal/Rubber, Infectious or hazardous materials, Other packaging or plastics, Gloves
If this 10-month pilot is successful we will consider expanding to other lab buildings and to other lab waste streams such as gloves.
Download the Surplus Furniture Request "How-to" Guide for information on navigating and using the above Surplus Furniture Inventory website.
Waste = Emissions
Interested in how our waste system is connected to climate change? Watch "Waste Not Warm Not"
What is Campus Race to Zero Waste?
UMass Amherst is competing against hundreds of other universities and colleges in Campus Race to Zero Waste 2024. A national competition that helps colleges and universities advance campus waste-diversion efforts including reuse, recycling, food waste diversion, and waste-minimization efforts.
How to Participate
Get it to the bin. Recycle your bottles, cans, tubs, paper, and cardboard. Empty your food scraps into the food waste bin. Make sure that you review the signs that indicate what items go where. Remember, no containers or packaging of any kind can go in the food waste bin. Check out the campus recycling guidelines!
Get in the game: Reduce your waste! Reuse items when possible! Recycle properly, empty it and use the right bin (Recycle / Food Waste / Landfill)!
Use Hydration Stations to refill your reusable water bottle and reduce single-use plastic waste. There are over 256 hydration stations on our campus and counting. Check out our plastics reduction initiatives and the Plastic Reduction Partner Pledge UMass signed in November 2023.
2024-2025 Events & Promotions
UMass Dining Reusable Mug Every Day Discount - Daily
Enjoy $0.25 off at any retail dining location when you bring your reusable mug. Every day.
UMass event wins award!
Snacks with Sustainability Staff event series held in the Old Chapel in Spring 2024 wins CRZW Green Events Award for 2024!
Textile Recycling
As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce landfill waste from campus operations and residents, the UMass New2U program has been expanded to offer year-round textile recycling boxes in two locations on campus: Southwest Residential Area outside of Hampden at top of horseshoe and Central Residential Area outside of Brooks Hall.
We partner with Baystate Textiles, serving over 120 municipalities throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut with over 40 years of experience in the post-consumer textile waste industry.
Acceptable Items: These boxes accept BAGGED clothing, footwear, accessories, and linens. PLEASE NO DUMPING OR LEAVING BAGS ON GROUND, BOXES ARE MONITORED BY CAMERA