George Mason University is implementing new procedures for trash collection and cleaning in campus offices. These changes support the university's efforts to increase efficiency and cut costs. Starting on August 1, 2024, these changes will go into effect in university offices at the Fairfax, Mason Square, and Science and Technology campuses:
- Faculty and staff will be responsible for emptying the individual trash can in their workspace into larger trash receptacles in common areas. Housekeeping staff will no longer empty personal trash cans located at desks/cubicles/private offices.
- Workspaces/offices will be cleaned weekly.
Common spaces and high traffic areas will be cleaned daily, and trash will be removed from common area trash receptacles at least once daily. The cleaning schedule will not change in classrooms, labs, restrooms, kitchens, and common areas.
These changes are being implemented after a pilot program was conducted on the SciTech Campus and in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus during the 2023–24 academic year.
FAQs
- Yes. Individual workspace trash cans will remain in place. Employees will be responsible for emptying their own trash cans into the larger trash receptacles in common areas. Click here to download a full list of common area trash can. You can filter the list by campus and building.
- Please do not place food waste into personal/workspace trash cans. Instead, dispose of food waste in the large, centralized trash receptacles in common areas. These centralized trash cans will be emptied by housekeeping staff. Personal trash cans will not be emptied by housekeeping staff.
- Faculty and staff may request plastic bin liners for their individual workspace trash cans by contacting their office manager, by submitting a work order online, or contacting the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525.
- Faculty and staff who would prefer not to keep their individual workspace trash cans may contact the Facilities Customer Service Center to arrange pickup.
To have your trash can cleaned, please submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525. In the future, please request bin liners as needed.
The current frequency of lab and classroom cleanings will not change. Trash cans will not be removed from labs. Please continue to use those trash cans to dispose of waste, especially specially labeled and classified waste.
You may submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525. You will not be charged a fee for large volume trash/recycling pick up.
Recycling collection will remain the same: once a week, unless additional collections are needed. You may submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525 if an additional pickup is needed.
- George Mason Facilities strongly recommends not storing food in offices and workspaces, unless it is kept inside hard plastic, glass, or metal containers. All food waste should be disposed of in the large trash receptacles in common areas.
- Leaving food and/or food waste in offices and workspaces can increase the presence of pests. If you choose to use your individual workspace trash can to dispose of food items, remember to use plastic bin liners (available upon request) and empty the trash can at the end of the day.
If additional cleaning is needed for any reason, please submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525.
Please contact the ADA Office at ada@gmu.edu for assistance.
You may submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525.
Call 911 immediately for safety emergencies like fire, smoke, or gas smells. For maintenance emergencies, call 703-993-2525 to notify the Facilities Customer Service Center.