Composting
The Composting Program turns food waste from the campus community into nutrient-rich soil that is used in gardens across campus.
Find what you need:
- What is composting and why is it important? – Learn how the on-campus Composting Program runs and why composting properly is important
- What CAN and CANNOT be composted? – Learn what can be composted through our on-campus Composting Program at K.
- How to participate – Ready to compost? Learn how to identify compost bins on campus.
- Where is the Grove? – Learn how to find the Grove to grab a green bucket or visit the compost piles.
- Point of Contact – Reach out to the Composting Crew or the Environmental Stewardship Center with questions.
What is Composting?
About Composting at K
As part of our responsible food waste programs, we utilize two types of composting at Kalamazoo College: on-campus composting and industrial composting.
On-Campus Composting Program: The Composting Crew is student run with the support of Facilities Management and the Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center. Kalamazoo College faculty, staff and students can drop off their food scraps at the Grove and the Composting Crew collects food waste around campus. The Composting Program aims to inform the campus community about the ecological environment alongside our relationship to food and waste.
Industrial Composting: We partner with My Green Michigan, an industrial composting vendor located in Lansing, Michigan. My Green Michigan provides the light green bins located behind Hicks Center, picks up our food waste and composts at their industrial composting site in Lansing.
The Importance of Composting Properly
Both composting programs have specific requirements for what types of food waste can be composted due to the composting methods and temperature of processing the food waste.
What happens if non-compostable items are added to a compost bin?
When non-compostable items are added to a compost bin, the load is either rejected or someone has to sort through the food waste by hand to remove the contaminants. Continue reading to learn what can be composted with the on campus Composting Program and with our industrial composting vendor.
How much did K compost in 2023-2024?
What CAN and CANNOT be composted?
Examples of acceptable and not acceptable items for on-campus and industrial composting.
On-Campus Composting
You CAN compost:
- Breads
- Grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Teabags & coffee grounds
- Unbleached coffee filters
- Unbleached napkins
You CANNOT compost:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Plastic
- Stickers
- Greasy Foods
- Compostable disposables
Important Details:
- Remove stickers from fruit and vegetables
- Chopped food is easier to process, so if you can cut up your foods scraps, we appreciate it!
- Compost piles in the Grove do not get hot enough to process meat, dairy and compostable disposables. These items can be composted through the industrial composting vendor.
Industrial Composting
You CAN compost:
- Breads
- Grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat
- Dairy
- Greasy foods
- Teabags & coffee grounds
- Unbleached coffee filters
- Unbleached napkins
- Compostable disposables that are BPI certified
You CANNOT compost:
- Plastic
- Stickers
- Compostable disposables that are not BPI certified
How to Participate
On-Campus Composting
Compost in your Office: Request a compost bucket for your department or office! Buckets will be picked up weekly during academic terms by the Composting Crew.
Collect food waste at home (for K students, faculty and staff): Pick up a green bucket at the Grove, take it home, collect food waste and exchange your bucket at the Grove anytime.
Take the Composting PE Class (for K students): Students can register for the PED-128 Composting Class in fall and spring terms.
Stay updated with the Environmental Stewardship Center for events and special projects!
Industrial Composting
In the Cafeteria: After eating a meal in the Cafeteria, all leftover food (including meat and dairy), napkins and compostable tableware can be put in the green compost bins next to the dirty dishes conveyer belt. Any non-compostable items can be thrown in the trash. Dining Services staff transfer the compost from the bin to the My Green Michigan bins behind Hicks
Richardson Room: A sorting container is available facing the Richardson Room patio/exit doors for compost and landfill. Sort your food waste into the compost bin.
Departments: If you have compostable materials from events you can put them in the light green My Green Michigan bins located behind Hicks.
Where is the Grove?
The Grove is the forested area between the Living Learning Houses, the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership and the Trowbridge parking lot. The entrance is near the stairs next to DeWaters Hall.
The Grove is home to a variety of of different organisms as well as the composting shed, green buckets, tools and compost piles the Composting Crew uses to process food waste.
Points of Contact
Composting Crew
Contact the Compost Crew if:
- a new (or replacement) bin is needed
- a missed pick up or closed office during rounds
- getting involved with composting on campus
- general composting questions!
Environmental Stewardship Center (ESC)
EnvironmentalStewardship@kzoo.edu
Contact the ESC if you have questions about:
- questions about on-campus or industrial composting
- hiring for the Composting Crew
- classes or meetings in the Grove
- composting PE class