Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Spotlight on Campus Composting and Recycling

  • 08/10/18

Recycling and composting programs have long been major topics in the world of higher education. In the last decade, even more of an emphasis has been placed upon them, as schools try to find new ways to promote sustainability on campus. Sara Koziatek of St. Louis Composting/Total Organics Recycling has worked to promote recycling in the St. Louis, MO, metro area for over five years and has watched colleges and universities work to make their recycling and composting programs more efficient.

Sara spoke recently with College Planning & Management about the benefits of recycling on campus, how to get students involved, and other topics.

Q. What are some recycling/composting innovations that are being introduced on modern college campuses?

A. Not necessarily an innovation, but what is becoming increasingly common is that campuses across the country are switching their service ware to certified compostable. These certifications include CMA, ASTM, and BPI*. With these certifications, it is easier for students and faculty to sort and decrease the potential for contamination to the composter.

  • *The Composting Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) certifies compostable feedstock and other products. More information is available at https://compostmanufacturingalliance.com.

  • The ASTM Composting Certification covers compostable plastic and plastic-based products. More information is available at www.astm.org/Standards/D6400.htm.

  • The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Certification helps to outline which food materials are naturally biodegradable. More information can be found at https://bpiworld.org.

Q. What are some challenges that are unique to colleges and universities when it comes to recycling and composting?

A. One of the main challenges that colleges and universities face is their ever-changing student body. Whereas you can train an office building and their turnover is minimal, universities get thousands of fresh faces every fall to educate and train on proper recycling and composting techniques.

Q. Are there any specific benefits campuses can enjoy when it comes to expanding their recycling and composting programs?

A. An advantage is that colleges and universities typically have extra land where they can compost or recycle on their campus. Schools are able to create their own composting and recycling operations to decrease their waste and educate their students on how they can also team up with a commercial composter to help properly dispose of those unwanted organics. Expanding their programs, if done properly and effectively, can decrease their trash costs as well.

Q. Is composting on a campus realistic? What are some considerations that should be taken when setting up a recycling or composting program?

A. Absolutely! The biggest consideration should be: “What will be actually going into the compost bin?” What type of material is the cafeteria currently serving food on? Any type of disposable service ware should be certified compostable to aid students and faculty in sorting, and having this type of service ware also helps lower the potential for contamination.

Featured

  • Big Horn Academy

    Big Horn Academy

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Big Horn Academy has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • KWK Architects Announces Full Transition to Lawrence Group Branding

    KWK Architects recently announced that it will complete its transition to the Lawrence Group brand effective July 1, according to a news release. The merger marks the end of a three-year strategic integration process that began in March 2023 to unite the firms.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.