Campus Composting
Campus Composting, Part 2: Pushing the Boundaries
Nicole Berg
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
How do we prevent contamination? This was the key question our staff wasfaced with when charged with expanding composting opportunities at our institution of80,000 people. To meet our goal of reducing waste sent to landfills by 40% by 2025, it was imperative that we expand composting opportunities in a significant way. Since our major food operations were already pre-consumer composting in dining establishmentsaround campus, our best move forward was post-consumer composting.
Our program has expanded in three branches (1) zero waste events for students,(2) zero waste events for staff, and (3) zero waste staff kitchens. In this session we willcover why we selected these programs. We will focus on key strategies for effectivelycomposting contamination-free in each of these programs, key barriers & challenges,and - does progress show we can reach our diversion goal through these programs?
Attendees will take away adoptable strategies for post-consumer collectionprograms, especially in areas with frequent overturn in engaged populations, as well asdata on the diversion potential of composting in office, classroom, and athletic venues.Strategies covered will include (1) building occupant/event attendee education; (2)broader stakeholder engagement and buy-in - from the compost site operator,sustainable packaging provider, custodial services, waste hauler, to caterers; and (3)addressing concerns and hiccups.