Compost

Compost

At Seattle University, you’ll find compost bins for your food waste all over campus.  Our campus compost facility annually turns 52,000 pounds of pre-consumer food waste from the restaurant kitchens into compost.  Your food waste is hauled to Cedar Grove and turned into compost.  Questions? Contact Matthew Benedict, Compost Technician, 296-6459 with questions.

What can I compost? 

  • With the exception of coffee cup and soup cup lids, all to-go ware from the campus restaurants and catering is compostable including: utensils, straws, clam shell containers, cellophane, clear cups, parfait cups, clear lid and black tray for sushi; paper cups, bowls and plates
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Grains: pasta, bread, rice
  • Animal products and by-products: meat, dairy, cheese, eggs, bones and shells
  • Plants: flower bouquets (no dirt)
  • Tea bags, coffee grounds and filters
  • Food-soiled paper: plates, cups, and bowls; pizza and cake boxes; paper bags, napkins and towels
  • Cross-cut and confetti cut paper and paper punch holes
  • Compostable bags for lining your compost bin made from plant-based materials or paper bags. 

What is not compostable?

  • All coffee cup lids as they are made from  petroleum plastic, Starbucks cold cups, and plastic bags go in the recycling bin.
  • Starbucks coffee cups go in the recycling bin because they have a wax liner
  • Facial tissues and bathroom paper towels go in the trash because the Health Department is concerned about contamination.

How do I get compost bins for my campus event?

For large events, contact Conference and Event Services to have compost bins delivered to your event.  For meetings, please take your organic waste to the nearest public area compost bin.

How do I prevent fruit flies in my residence hall room compost bin?

  • Collect food waste in a paper bag and keep it in the freezer. The freezer will prevent fruit fly reproduction. Put the whole bag in the compost can.
  • Collect food waste in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Empty the food waste in the compost can and either reuse or throw away the bag. (Do not put plastic bags with food waste in recycling.)