Scrap Materials Recycling and Waste

Scrap Materials Recycling

Our primary scrap is from metal cutting. We encourage the setting aside of small usable pieces that we make freely available to registered MakerSpace users for university purposes. This material is available in the MakeSpace. It is not for personal use.

Metal scrap, chips and metal items being disposed of are to be placed in the large red outdoor waste bin (ABC Recycling bin located in Applied Science Lane). If you have copper or brass scrap, please drop it at the machine shop.

There is currently no scrap program at UBC for wood or plastics, so waste such as this is to be placed in regular garbage. Large pieces can be put in the large blue dumpster bin next to the red metal recycling bin.

E-waste

The department has an e-waste container. Please email facilities@mech.ubc.ca for location and access.

Small commercial batteries (AA, C, D and 9 volt cells, NiCad, NiMH, Li-Ion, zinc air coin cells) can be dropped in the Call2Recycle bin inside the machine shop. Please note that we don’t accept lead-acid batteries, custom battery packs or leaking/corroded batteries. Please bring such items to the appropriate regional transfer stations.

Waste Oil and Cutting Fluid

The machine shop has a waste drum for lubricating oil and a waste drum for machine tool cutting fluid (water-based soluble oil emulsions such as Blasocut 2000). We do not have facilities to accept other liquid/chemical wastes.

Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard should be placed in the green cardboard recycling dumpster with the black plastic lid. You will find it in Applied Science Lane marked “Cardboard”, next to the blue garbage dumpster.

Broken Glass

We follow UBC Waste Management procedures and place broken glass in a 20l plastic pail marked “Broken Glass”. This pail is kept in the machine shop and is accessible during shop hours.

Garbage

Items that are otherwise approved for landfill can be disposed of in the blue garbage dumpster in Applied Science Lane. See Disposal Ban Program for more information.

Other Waste

For all other waste, including chemical waste, please contact Stores or visit the Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide.