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People often assume that composting is this impactless way of returning unlimited amounts of food waste to the earth and restarting the cycle — or that it’s impossible to produce too much waste as long as it’s compostable. This is not accurate. Facilities like this one can handle large volumes of waste, but it is currently running at capacity. Compost is a great option, but any kind of waste management is going to have an impact on the ecosystem.
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The Custodial Waste Busters visit a recycling center and composting facility to learn more about where Carleton’s waste goes and how it’s handled once it leaves campus.
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Carleton to expand compost program
A new and exciting composting projects is currently in the works on campus and will be up and running this spring. Catering services will begin new composting programs when students return from spring break this year. Sustainability Assistants met with Joe Winegardner, the General Manager of Dining Services several weeks ago to pitch the plan. Joe eagerly agreed to train staff and obtain the proper bins in order to make composting happen. As a result, all food waste generated at catered events will be composted and event organizers will be encouraged to select compostable plastic-ware, napkins, and plates that will also be sent out to the compost piles in Rosemount.
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This week, the Carleton Facilities Department provided biodegradable bags to more than 100 students living off-board in Northfield, ensuring that the entire Carleton College campus can now compost. Students living in Northfield (“Northfield Option Students”) stopped by the Sayles Campus Center Monday through Wednesday to pick up a box of compostable bags for their respective houses. Approximately 50 houses in Northfield received boxes. Students will fill their bags at home and bring the bags to campus to drop in compost bins located around campus. These bins are currently set up for Interest Houses, but will be now be available to a wider range of students. SOPE (Students Organized to Protect the Environment) maintains these bins every few weeks by turning the piles and adding leaves. When these bins are full, Facilities carts the waste to a larger pile located by a Facilities warehouse. The compost generated here is then used by Facilities for landscaping projects, among other things.
This system, although effective, will not be in use for long. Carleton College recently received a grant for $10,000 to purchase an Earth Tub, a large compost tub, to replace the Facilities pile. The tub will be located on sight and serve as an educational tool for the college and surrounding community. It is expected to arrive by the end of the Academic year at the latest.
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