General waste includes non-hazardous materials generated from routine University operations, including offices, classrooms, common areas, and other campus activities. General waste must be properly managed through designated waste collection and recycling programs. Materials requiring special handling (i.e. chemical waste, biological waste, universal waste, and electronic waste, etc) must be managed through their applicable EHS programs. The following guidance is a quick reference, for addtional details refer to the Waste Management Plan.
A quick way to determine the appropriate disposal method is to ask: “Can it be recycled or composted, or does it require special handling?” If none apply, the material may be disposed of as general waste. When there is uncertainty regarding proper waste classification or disposal, contact EHS before placing materials into general waste. EHS can assist with determining the appropriate waste stream and disposal requirements.
