Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) collects all recyclable materials in the
blue or marked recycling containers around campus. The recycling process involves
a series of activities, including collecting the recyclables, and taking them to the
District holding station to be sorted then taken to a local recycling center for processing.
These recyclable materials are turned into raw materials such as fibers, and materials
to manufacture new products. Recycling helps to keep our campuses clean as well as
minimize our carbon footprint.
YCCD works in conjunction with Modesto Junior College and the Sustainability Committee
at Columbia College. Both Modesto and Columbia Facilities Operations offices have
participated in and received a Cal Recycling Grant, which paid for Recycling Stations
and Holding Stations. The stations can be found on the interior and exterior of the
campuses. 22 stations were placed around Columbia College and 104 recycling stations
were placed on the MJC East and West campuses for recycling of aluminum, plastic,
and glass. The money from the recycling is placed back into a fund to self-sustain
the program.
Types of recycling that take place on the campuses are:
Recycling:
Ash
Batteries
Cardboard
Concrete
Shredding
Copier/Toner Cartridges
CRV Beverage Containers
Newspaper
Office Paper (White)
Office Paper (Mixed)
Scrap Metal
Tires
Wood Pallets
Wood Waste
Material Exchange:
Nonprofit/Donations - Students donate books to Books for Africa
Internal Property Utilization
Used Book Buybacks
Employee Supply Exchange
Auction
Organics Recycling:
Xeriscaping
Grasscycling
Greenwaste Commercial pickup
Onsite Composting
Waste Prevention/Reuse:
Paper Forms Reduction
Bulletin Boards
Reusable Boxes
Reusable Pallets
Electronic Document Storage
Double-sided Copies
Email vs. Paper Memos
Laundered Shop Rags
Retreaded/Recapped Tires
Firewood Sales
The Facilities Planning & Operations Department continuously looks for ways to improve
recycling efforts by participating in webinars, posting signage and correct labeling
of all the recycle bins and locations, reading publications with new ideas for recycling,
and attending and participating in environmental fairs.
The District encourages carpooling and zero emissions cars by allocating parking spaces
for the individuals that participate in the program.
Assembly Bill 75 is mandated by the California Integrated Waste Management Board to
divert 50% of its solid waste from the landfill starting in 2004. YCCD submits annual
reports to the CIWMB on the tonnage of solid waste generated by the campuses, and
the percentage diverted from landfill by recycling, reuse, and resale. As per Assembly
Bill 1016 in 2008, the CIWMB changed the reporting methodology, and will track waste
generated on a per capita basis. The requirement for at least 50% diversion from landfill
is still in effect.