A free, local, low-emissions solution for lab materials smaller than 6″:
Where to Donate:
Dark green Art From Scrap (AFS) donation bins are located next to the existing e-waste bins in laboratory buildings.
Donation bins are serviced bi-weekly by AS Recycling and collected donations are brought to AFS’ Creative ReUse Store.
Current Drop-off Locations:
| Lab Building | Location of AFS Bins | Photo |
| Building 555 – Marine Biotechnology Lab | Communal printing room 2139. |  |
| Elings Hall | NEW LOCATION: 2nd floor hallway, far south end, across from lab 2448 (next to the kitchenette). MOVED FROM: Third floor near the shipping elevator. |  |
| Marine Science Research Building (MSRB/MSI) | First floor in the printer room located through the door to 1308 (along the same wall as the MSI Auditorium). |  |
| Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) | Oceanside entrance on the left as you enter. Across women’s bathroom Room 1077. |  |
| Bren Hall | 2nd floor at the end of the hall. Exit to the right out of the elevator. Next to room 2203. |   |
| Noble Hall | 1st floor oceanside courtyard entrance next to parking lot. Across from electrical Room 1263. |  |
| Bio II | 1st floor near the shipping door. Across from Office 1111 (printer room). Enter from main front entrance, turn left, and left again. |   |
| Life Sciences Building | Third floor next to the existing e-waste bin. In the room where Biology major advising takes place, across from the third floor elevators on the right when facing away from the elevators. |  |
The UCSB x Art From Scrap Partnership is currently in its expansion phase, following a successful pilot program.
What Can I Donate?
All clean, dry, and non-hazardous lab materials are accepted through the green AFS donation bins in your lab building. Labels do not need to be taken off to donate materials.
How does it work?
Donation Do’s and Don’ts:
Accepted
- Yes, items MUST be clean, dry, and non-hazardous
- Yes, donate plastic materials smaller than 6″ in size
- Yes, empty containers
- Yes, stockpiled materials (bag similar items if you can!)
- Yes, individual materials
Not Accepted
- NO hazardous materials
- NO liquids
- NO plastic film
- NO electronics
- NO glass
- NO styrofoam
Example Donations:
Who is Art From Scrap?
Art From Scrap (AFS) is a program of Explore Ecology. AFS’ Creative ReUse store is located in downtown Santa Barbara and accepts thousands of pounds of clean, reusable material from ending up in the Santa Barbara County landfill each year. AFS helps give single-use lab plastics a second life by repurposing them as art supplies for local schools, artists, and community programs.
We’re so excited to partner with UCSB to divert single-use plastics from campus science labs. It’s amazing how something as simple as a piece of plastic can be transformed into a tool for children’s art, education, and creativity. By keeping these materials out of the landfill, we’re not only reducing waste—we’re also providing affordable or free art supplies to teachers, students, and families throughout Santa Barbara. This partnership is a powerful example of how creative reuse supports both sustainability and community.
– Nicole Roehrig, Art From Scrap Store Manager
If you are interested about what else Art From Scrap accepts besides from lab plastics, please check out their website for more detailed information on what donations they are currently accepting.
Jake Hereen ’24
Recycling and Compost Coordinator
AS Recycling
jakeh@as.ucsb.edu
Melissa Dodos
Store Manager
Art From Scrap
afsreuse@exploreecology.org