UCSF Expands "Going Greener" Program

Capital Programs and Facilities Management (CPFM) and Campus Life Services (CLS) are working hard at making UCSF a more sustainable environment. 

To learn more about earth-friendly practices and products, go to UCSF Earth Fest 2009 on Thursday, May 16 in the Millberry Gym on the Parnassus campus. Read story here.

Recycling and composting programs aren’t new at UCSF.

CPFM’s recycling coordinators, Kathryn Hyde and Susan Bluestone, launched a vendor kitchen composting program in April 2004, which greatly reduced the garbage collection in Millberry Union by sending the material out as compost instead.

Campus Life Services, Retail introduced the “Going Greener” campaign in the Millberry Union food court in January 2008, in direct alignment with UCSF’s broad environmental sustainability goals.

“The Going Greener program has been really successful,” says Tamara Villarina, assistant manager of Retail Services, “and we’re happy that it’s expanding to additional UCSF campus locations.”

Recent expansion efforts are now bringing the program to Courtyard Cafe in the School of Nursing building and the Pub at UCSF Mission Bay. 

“The bins are working great,” says Josh Porter, assistant Food & Beverage manager at the Pub. “People are taking the time to bus their own tables.”

The following bins are available in all three locations: Millberry Union, the Courtyard Cafe, and the Pub at UCSF Mission Bay:

  • Composting for food, paper, paper plates, napkins, milk and juice cartons, paper cups, tea bags, and coffee grounds
  • Commingled recycling for plastic bottles and containers, soda cans, aluminum cans, foil, glass bottles, jars, all-rigid plastic, and CDs
  • Garbage for styrofoam, straws, chip and snack bags, plastic bags, condiment packages, and plastic wrap

“Signs are hanging above each bin, if you have any questions about which receptacle to use,” says Villarina.
For more information about UCSF’s sustainability efforts, go here.