For anyone on campus who is looking to dispose of items, please use the drop down below to find and utilize the appropriate waste stream.

Acid Waste

What do I do?

Neutralize through your department

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

Neutralize through your department

Aerosol Cans  

What do I do?

Call for pick-up

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

US&A handles aerosols according to Universal Waste Rules  

Asbestos Containing Equipment/Waste

What do I do?

Call Facility Services for pick up

Who do I contact?

Facility Services 414-229-4576  

Notes

Requires special hazardous materials handling  

Ballasts

What do I do?

Recycle electronic ballasts through Surplus.  Collect oil-containing ballasts and call for pick up by US&A.

Who do I contact?

Sustainability/Surplus 414-229-3465  

US&A 414-550-9190  

  

Notes

Ballasts manufactured before 1981 contain PCB oil.  These must be handled as hazardous waste through US&A.  

Batteries

What do I do?

Collect Nickel-Cadmium, Lithium Ion, Nickel metal hydride, Lead acid and Lead gel-cell batteries.

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

Heavy metals are reclaimed and recycled. Alkaline batteries may be placed in regular trash.  

Broken Glass & Plastic-ware (Non-infectious only: pipette tips, fragile, broken glass)

What do I do?

Package non-infectious materials in a sturdy cardboard box. Seal with tape. Mark box “Broken Glass”. Set out box for ES pick-up.  

Who do I contact?

Environmental Services  414-229-6466  

Notes

Box size not to exceed 18x12x10 inches. (e.g. copy paper box is acceptable)  

Blue Bin / Hallway Recycling

What do I do?

Break down and flatten  cardboard.    

Empty bottles and cans.   

Who do I contact?

Sustainability - Konitze2@uwm.edu

  

Notes

Blue bin recycling is for The Core Four: Cardboard, paper, bottles & cans   

Bulk Recycling (Paper, Journals, Books)

What do I do?

Contact Campus Recycling at konitze2@uwm.edu.

Who do I contact?

Sustainability - Konitze2@uwm.edu  

  

Notes

Support for office clean-outs, retirements. Service is free for 1 or 2 carts at a time.  

Compressed Gas Cylinders

What do I do?

Transport to loading dock for vendor pick-up

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

For lecture cylinders, call US&A

Confidential Shredding

What do I do?

Contact Environmental Services for bin location.

Who do I contact?

Environmental Services 414-229-6466

  

Notes

To have a bin delivered to your department for a fee, a service request must be completed.  

Contaminated Labware

What do I do?

Collect, bag and label labware. (gloves, wipes, pipette tips)

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

Collect lab-ware for Toxic materials 

Electronic Waste (Computers, CRT’s, microwaves, televisions, etc.)

What do I do?

Contact UWM Sustainability  

Surplus Declaration Fee applies.

Who do I contact?

Fill out Surplus  Declaration (see Surplus Equipment) 

  

Notes

Do not place electronic equipment into the regular trash.  Equipment is recycled through the Surplus Program.  

Empty Containers

What do I do?

Place in regular trash. 

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

  

Notes

If container has some residue, it still is considered empty and may be placed in the trash. 

Fluorescent Light Bulbs (LED, Sodium, Halogen, Large Incandescent)

What do I do?

Call Stores for pick-up.  For very small quantities, contact US&A for pick up  

Who do I contact?

Stores:  414-229-5316  

US&A  414-550-9190  

Notes

Facility Services staff change bulbs.  Bulbs are Universal Waste and should be handled according to Universal Waste Rules.

Household Hazardous Waste

What do I do?

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District (MMSD) sponsors local “Clean Sweeps” which usually start in the spring and travel to different counties throughout the summer.  For information on times and dates, please refer to MMSD’s website at www.mmsd.com

Who do I contact?

MMSD  

414-225-2066  

www.mmsd.com  

Veolia operates two collection facilities in Menomonee Falls & Franklin. Check MMSD website.

Notes

UWM cannot accept Household Hazardous Wast (HHW) because of the disposal costs.  Please utilize local “Clean Sweeps” to handle the disposal of HHW responsibly.  

Laser Toner/Ink Jet Cartridges (fax machines, printers, some copiers)

What do I do?

Send back to the supplier. 

Use pre-paid shipping stickers that accompany the cartridge or follow supplier’s directions.

Contact Print and Copy Services. 

Who do I contact?

Print & Copy Services  414-229-6224  

US&A  414-550-9190   

Notes

Cartridges are manufactured for reuse.  Departmental copier toner cartridges should be saved and collected by Print and Copy Services.  

Mercury

What do I do?

Call for pick -up

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

Mercury can be reclaimed and recycled

Paint

What do I do?

Call US&A for pick up.

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

Notes

Unusable latex paint can be dried and tossed in the trash.

Pallets

What do I do?

Transport on or near loading dock for Grounds to pick-up.

Who do I contact?

Sustainability 414-229-3465  

  

Notes

Grounds will transfer pallets to USRB.

Peroxide Forming Chemicals

What do I do?

Date chemicals upon receipt.  Test chemicals frequently for peroxides.

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

Notes

Peroxide-forming chemicals can be very dangerous and expensive to dispose/handle.  

Photographic Fixer

What do I do?

Collect fixer in containers provided by US&A.  Call for pick up.

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

Notes

Silver is reclaimed from spent photographic fixer.

Plastic Film (Plastic bags, plastic film, plastic mailing sleeves)  

What do I do?

Specialty collection bins are located across campus.  

Contact  Konitze2@uwm.edu to host a bin.  

Who do I contact?

Sustainability - Konitze2@uwm.edu

  

Notes

Plastic bags and film cannot be placed in blue recycling bins on campus.  

Radioactive Waste

What do I do?

Questions regarding disposal of radioactive materials should be directed to the Radiation Safety Program.  

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

Notes

The Radiation Safety Program manages the safe use of radioactive material via training, laboratory audits, surveys, radio-nuclide control and inventory, personal dosimetry and waste disposal.  

Sharps (Needles, razor blades, scalpels, etc.) 

What do I do?

Sharps containers are in most first floor restrooms.  

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190  

Notes

Facility Services staff change bulbs.  Bulbs are Universal Waste and should be handled according to Universal Waste Rules.

Solvent-Soaked Rags

What do I do?

Collect rags in fire-resistant containers/drums and keep closed when not in use.

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

Collect rags soaked with solvents, dyes, oils and paints.

Surplus Equipment (Furniture, office supplies, etc.)

What do I do?

Contact UWM Sustainability  

Surplus Declaration Fee applies.

Who do I contact?

Sustainability/Surplus 414-229-3465

  

Notes

All unwanted furniture & equipment needs to be declared Surplus and cannot be thrown away. Fill out UWM Surplus  Declaration form. 

Waste Solvents

What do I do?

Place solvent in labeled container and keep closed. Call US&A for pick up.

Who do I contact?

US&A 414-550-9190  

Notes

Waste solvents can be bulked to save on disposal costs. 

White Goods (Fridges & Freezers)  

What do I do?

Fill out Surplus Declaration (see Surplus Equipment) 

Who do I contact?

Sustainability 414-229-3465  

  

Notes

Freon is recovered and recycled.

Unwanted Chemicals

What do I do?

Create an inventory of all the chemicals for disposal.  Make sure all chemicals are labeled with proper chemical name. Call for pick-up 

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

It is very expensive for the University to dispose of unidentified chemicals 

Used Oil/Antifreeze

What do I do?

Call for pick-up

Who do I contact?

US&A  414-550-9190

Notes

US&A recycles used oil, filters and antifreeze.  Do not mix other wastes with oil/antifreeze  


Please see below for a full PDF version of waste disposal guidelines as well as a button to download.