3 things to know about composting on campus
At CU Boulder, composting is easy, convenient and great for our environment. Here are some tips for what and where to compost on campus.
Why it’s great to compost
Here are just a few reasons to get in the habit of composting:
Composting saves landfill space. Compostable items need oxygen, water and mixing to biodegrade. When they’re covered in landfills, this process can’t happen. These items also take up space, making a need for new landfills more quickly.
Composting helps fight climate change. When compostable items are covered in landfills, they release methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. Methane absorbs the sun’s heat, warming the atmosphere.
Composting helps create nutrient-rich soil. Soil created from composting can be very beneficial to local gardens and farms.
What you can compost
A good rule to start with is if it was recently alive, it can probably be composted. Common items you can compost on campus include food waste, compostable plastics and paper, paper towels and napkins.
When composting, do your best to avoid contamination. Make sure the item is labeled compostable or has the right symbol or identifier. Plastic-lined coffee cups and to-go food containers are not compostable. However, many places on campus—including the UMC Starbucks, dining centers, Alferd Packer Grill and The Bakery—provide compostable to-go items.
Where you can compost
You can review the full list of buildings with compost on campus. Compost bins are mostly found in restrooms or next to recycling bins in buildings. Having compost in restrooms ensures it gets emptied daily.
Composting guidelines on campus are the same as in the city and county of Boulder (it all goes to the same place!). If you live off campus in the city of Boulder, your landlord is required to provide you with composting services under the , so ask if you don’t have it.
Sustainable Buffs is a series brought to you by the Environmental Center. sustainability tips and ways to get involved.
