Recycling and waste disposal
Unsure about how to best dispose of something on campus? Check out our guide below to learn how to properly dispose of various types of waste. Do you have something not addressed by this guide? Email us at sustainability@pomona.edu and we’ll add it to this list!
Please remember that on-campus waste disposal is intended for items that were purchased with department funding to be used on-campus. Please dispose of personal waste through the appropriate off-campus channels.
Recycling
Plastic
Only plastics #1 and #2 are recyclable in Claremont. Look for the number inside the “chasing arrows” triangle to determine which type of plastic a product is made of. Single use beverage bottles for water, soda, sports drinks, etc. Are made of plastics #1 and #2, as are many plastic food containers. Plastic containers should be free of food/drink residue before being placed in the recycling container. Plastic bags, wrappers, and films cannot be recycled in Claremont.
Metal
Most metal containers can be recycled, such as aluminum, tin, steel, and other common metals used for food packaging. Non-food related metals can also be placed in the recycling bin as long as they contain only metal.
Paper and Cardboard
Paper and cardboard can be recycled as long as they are clean and dry, free from any food, liquids, or other waste. Shredded paper should be placed in the trash.
Compost
In general, only food and food scraps are accepted in the City of Claremont’s compost stream. Produce, dairy, eggs, meat, bones, baked goods, vegetable peels and seeds are all accepted.
Most paper-based foodservice items such as plates, cups, and napkins are not accepted for composting in our area. Many cups and utensils made of plant-based plastics are advertised as compostable, but are also not accepted for composting in Claremont. These products often do not break down quickly enough even in industrial composting systems. They also contain little to no nutrient value, and can often contain chemicals such as PFAS that are harmful in composting systems and soil. The exception to this rule would be unbleached paper napkins and wooden utensils that contain no bleaches, dyes, or other chemicals.
Ink cartridges
All HP brand ink cartridges come with a return shipping label in their box. Simply apply the label to the outside of the box and drop it off at the Mail Services room in the Pendleton Building. Alternatively, Mail Services performs pickups of ink cartridges, batteries, hazardous lightbulbs, and other small e-waste from offices on the last Wednesday of each month.
If you do not have a return shipping label, you can drop off ink cartridges at the Mail Room or at the Sustainability Office, which is located in the basement of Harwood Court (provide map).
You can also bring ink cartridges directly to a Staples office supply store for store credit. Staples will issue store credit for up to ten cartridges per month, but they will accept more than 10 cartridges total.
E-waste
E-waste includes electronics such as phones, tablets, computers, printers, hard drives, speakers, keyboards, and other electronic devices. Devices that are past their useful life can be dropped off in the Mail Room or outside of the Sustainability Office (provide map).
For college-owned devices or devices that contain sensitive information, please contact ITS for disposal information.
Lightbulbs
Most lightbulbs have lettering indicating if it is an LED, halogen, or other type of bulb.
LED Bulbs
LED bulbs are not generally hazardous and can be disposed of in the trash. However, they do contain recyclable materials and can be placed in the bulb drop-off container in the Mail Room or outside the Sustainability Office.
Fluorescent Bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury vapor, which is a hazardous substance. Fluorescent bulbs and should be placed in the bulb drop-off bins in the Mail Room or outside the Sustainability Office. Please use care to avoid breaking bulbs as this can release harmful vapor and glass shards.
Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs do not contain hazardous materials or recyclable materials, and can be disposed of in the trash. Take care not to break the bulbs so that glass shards don’t cut through trash bags and hurt custodial staff.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs are not easily recycled, and should be disposed of in the trash (landfill).
Other types of bulbs
Other light bulbs such as mercury vapor or high-pressure sodium bulbs should be placed in the disposal bins in the Mail Room or outside the Sustainability Office.
Batteries
Batteries are considered universal hazardous waste and need to be disposed of properly. There are battery drop-off bins at the Mail Room and outside the Sustainability Office. Please put tape over one or both contacts on 9V batteries to prevent them from short-circuiting, which can cause fires.
CDs
CDs and DVDs cannot be recycled and should be placed in the trash. Contact ITS about any data sensitivity concerns before disposing of them.
Old Books
Books can be donated to the Book Room located in the lounge of Walker Hall. If you have a high volume of books or multiple copies of the same book, please contact the sustainability office.
Paint
For water and latex-based paints, leave them out without a lid or add an absorbent material such as cat litter to allow them to completely dry. Once dry they can be placed in the trash.
For oil-based paints contact Environmental Health and Safety Officer Sean Young at (909) 607-7359 or email EHS.
Aerosols and other hazardous chemicals
Contact Environmental Health and Safety Officer Sean Young at (909) 607-7359 or email EHS for proper disposal.