How to Compost Your Food Waste

 

What can I compost? 
Map of compost can locations
Where is my food waste composted?
Tips for collecting food waste in your office
Green your campus event

Questions? Suggestions? Contact Tyler Dierks, Recycling Coordinator, 296-6290 or Matthew Benedict, Compost Technician, 296-6459

What can I compost?

Fruits and vegetables
Grains: pasta, bread, rice
Animal foods: meat, dairy, cheese, eggs, bones and shells
Plants: flower bouquets
Tea bags, coffee grounds and filters
Food-soiled paper: plates, cups, and bowls; pizza and cake boxes; paper bags, napkins and towels from eating food. 
Cross-cut and confetti cut paper and paper punch holes. 
Compostable Bio-Plastics: All one time use products from the on-campus restaurants and catering are made from plant-based materials and are compostable including: utensils, straws, clam shell containers, cellophane, plastic wrap and clear cups; approved compostable bags. (Make sure that any one time use products from off campus restaurants do not have a plastic coating on them; if they do place them in the recycling.)

Note:

Map of compost can locations

Green compost cans are located outside University Services, Engineering, Student Center, Casey, Pigott, Connolly Center, Administration, Hunthausen and Chardin Hall. Click the map for locations.

Where is my food waste composted?

Your food waste is hauled to Cedar Grove and turned into compost.

Tips for collecting food waste in your office

Food waste collection is not yet standard for all offices within the university. If you and your office would like a compost bin that you would collect and empty into one of the outdoor compost bins, then the Recycling Shop will provide the bin. Collection cans are located outside buildings. You may want to collect several days worth of food waste before carrying it to a can. Here are some tips:

• Collect food waste in a compostable Bio-Bag inside of a typical waste can. Bio-Bags can be purchased at Safeway or QFC. The whole bag can be put in the outdoor compost can.
• 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.)

• Designate someone from your department to be the compost advocate. You might want to take turns collecting the food waste at your kitchenette and taking it out to our collection bins.

Green your campus event

We have worked with Conference and Events Services and WFF to help the organizers of large events such as Faculty/Staff Convocation, Mission Day and the New Student Barbeque and small catered events like office lunches achieve a goal of zero waste by collecting food waste and compostable service ware. This is now standard practice for all on campus events. WFF will deliver the compost cans and signage and collect the food waste after the event. The event host must buy approved compostable service ware if not using Bon Appétit catering, if you would like staff at the compost cans during the event to prevent contamination please contact Tyler Dierks, Recycling Coordinator, 296-6290 or Matthew Benedict, Compost Technician, 296-6459.