How to dispose of special waste items that do not belong in regular bins
Universal, electronic, and hazardous waste must be specially disposed of due to the potential harm to the environment and human health. Learn how to appropriately dispose of your specialty waste items. Campus departments may also find materials that cannot fit into the regular waste receptacles and can find resources here.
Note for students & the local community: Visit the Los Angeles Sanitation S.A.F.E. Center located at UCLA for disposal of universal, electronic, and hazardous waste, including medicine. If you are living on the Hill, you may bring universal waste to your residential hall lobbies for disposal. The resources listed below are campus departments, with the exception of textile recycling, which is available to all. More information on the S.A.F.E. Center can be found on their website.
Universal Waste
Universal waste is a sub-category of hazardous waste, and must be properly disposed. Under California regulation, items in the universal waste category cannot be disposed in the compost, recycling, or landfill waste streams due to the presence of mercury, lead, cadmium or other substances harmful to the environment and human health.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is considered waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic, such as but not limited to: chemicals, sharps, and lab waste. It also includes the accompanying documents ensuring destruction.
For more information on hazardous waste, visit CalRecycle.
For assistance disposing of hazardous waste on campus, contact UCLA Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Hazwaste Team.
Specialty Disposal
Some materials do not fit in the typical waste bin and are not considered universal or hazardous waste. Facilities Management provides options for campus departments for these materials listed below.