There is high demand for additional public-facing composting/food-waste reduction drop-off opportunities, beyond what we can currently provide. This team aims to add five compost tumblers to highly-visible campus locations to collect food waste, coffee grounds, shredded paper, etc., ultimately creating nutrient-rich compost used to fertilize the pollinator garden on the south side of the NSRC building with opportunities for further expansion. This project provides an educational opportunity intended to engage students, staff, and faculty and embed sustainable waste-reduction practices into daily life.

Food/compostable waste makes up an estimated 30% of all waste generated on our campus. This project would significantly reduce this category from our waste stream while providing an engagement and educational opportunity on waste and sustainability best practices. Adding additional compost tumblers will allow more accurate data and inventory to better understand how much waste we are diverting from the landfill. This program provides environmental stewardship, education, and hands-on learning opportunities, which will be an advertised example of sustainability best practices. These efforts will encourage dorms, offices, and individuals to participate in order to better manage day-to-day waste and make alternative purchasing decisions (e.g., switching from K-Cups to using coffee pots)