2/25/13 Composting - Sustainability- Western University Search Sustainability Initiatives Go! Composting Energy & Climate Composting is becoming more and more prevalent around us, and rightly so. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 25% of the waste in landfills in the United States is made up of food scraps and yard trimmings. These products take up unnecessary space in landfills and release vast amounts of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing towards climate change. Waste Reduction Composting Recycling Waste Audits By adopting composting at home and by utilizing Western’s compost systems when on campus, you can help reduce the size of landfills and reduce the amount of pollutants entering the air we breathe. However, this is easier said than done. Western has two different composting systems. Listed below are all of the ways you can compost here at Western. FERP Eating on Campus Buildings & Green Space Alternative Transportation UTOSS Water 1) Many kitchens on campus have compost bins. They dispose of all pre-consumer food waste here, which is all of the scraps generated during food preparation. 2) If you’re living in a residence with a kitchen, you can save your food scraps from eating either in the cafeteria or in your room, and dispose of them in the “Organics” stream. You can throw paper products in this stream too, such as napkins, tissues and paper plates without wax linings. If waste disposal is done back in the kitchen, leave all your compostables on a tray to be sent back. 3) Eat at the UCC Center Spot! There are two publicly accessible compost bins here! There is also a handy sign that displays which items are compostable. 4) If you have an office on campus or are in a program that has the majority of classes in the same room, enquire about receiving a small green bin for food compost. However, please note that this compost system is different than the other system previously described. These small green bins take everything you can eat, except for meat, and also take coffee grounds and tea bags. However, they do not take the same kind of paper products that would be able to go into campus’s kitchen composters or at the UCC Center Spot. This is because these green bins are the responsibility of whoever is using them. All waste must be personally taken to the black compost cones located in the gardens throughout campus. In these cones, paper materials do not degrade and meat products can draw the attention of rodents. A benefit of using this system is that adding compost to these cones provides gardens with nutrients, and can decrease the amount of petroleum based fertilizers that are used on campus. To request a green bin for your office or classroom, call the Service Center within Facilities Management at extension 83304. Here is a list of items that you can dispose of in kitchen and cafeteria composters: § All food scraps, including meat. § Paper products without wax lining (For example, Pizza Pizza’s cardboard trays, Harvey’s French fry containers, napkins, tissues, paper, etc.) § Coffee grounds and tea bags Western is attempting to become a Zero Waste Campus. This means that we are aiming to divert 90% or more of the university’s waste away from the landfill either by recycling or composting. If staff, students and faculty all did a little bit more composting on campus, this could greatly help reduce the amount of waste that Western sends to the landfill each year. Reduce your impact on the environment and help Western reach its goals! © 1878 - 2013 Western University sustainability.uwo.ca/initiatives/waste_reduction/composting.html Key Topics: Popular Resources: 1/2 2/25/13 © 1878 - 2013 Western University Sustainability at Western 1151 Richmond Street London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7 Tel: 519-661-2111 ex 86311 [email protected] Privacy | Web Standards | Terms of Use sustainability.uwo.ca/initiatives/waste_reduction/composting.html Composting - Sustainability- Western University Key Topics: Popular Resources: About Us Initiatives Academic Programs Energy Dashboard Get Involved AASHE Million Tree Challenge London's Carpool Zone Reforest London AASHE STARS EcoLIVING London 2/2