Buildings & Grounds

Buildings and Grounds provides custodial and housekeeping services, landscape services, and set-up and take-down services for campus events such as Commencement and other activities. This group also manages Tournament Park and Campus Recycling.

The Custodial and Housekeeping Group is responsible for routine cleaning of all academic, research and administrative buildings, including offices, classrooms, restrooms and public corridors. They are also responsible for routine cleaning of all on and off-campus undergraduate and graduate housing. Cleaning is performed per Table 3 - Frequency of Custodial Services on page 50, and consists of restroom cleaning and restocking, trash removal, classroom and office cleaning, dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming and mopping. Shampooing of rugs and stripping and waxing of floors are scheduled annually or according to established need. Crates, pallets, heavy boxes and trash cans full of heavy items are considered special handling items.

The Landscape Maintenance Group is responsible for the routine maintenance of outdoor spaces including pruning, fertilizing, mowing, cleaning and keeping the grounds free of litter and graffiti. We employ certified arborists, specialists in irrigation, and certified specialists for chemical applications.

Olive, sycamore and oak trees are the traditional theme trees of the campus. The plant palette is becoming more sustainable. The campus is governed by the ordinances of the City of Pasadena for watering, plant and tree selections. See Table 4 – Frequency of Grounds Services on page 34 for more information.

Recycling is provided by Buildings & Grounds. Recyclable materials are picked up from a central collection point in each campus building on a weekly basis by recycling personnel.

For more information regarding Caltech's campus recycling program, commitment to waste reduction, and recycling program history, please visit the Caltech Sustainability website - http://sustainability.caltech.edu Recyclable, blue container items, are handled by custodial, bulky items and e-waste are handled by EHS and Transportation. See http://www.safety.caltech.edu/root-pages/ewaste-roundup for more information.