at Trent University

Composting

Compost Generation

• Public Spaces

• Cafeterias

• Kitchens

• Gardens

Collection• Compost is set out

for collection by caretaking staff and kitchen porters.

Compost Pick -Up

• Physical Resources grounds staff collect the compost and delivery it to our campus compost site

Clean-Up

• Staff power wash the compost containers to help keep odours down

• Carts are typically lined with compostable bags

Processing Compost• New windrows are

started each semester

• Compostable waste is always covered in

wood chips• Windrows are

turned to aerate and moderate temperatures

Screening Compost

• Compost is screened to remove contamination and large uncomposted items

• Avoiding contamination is the biggest challenge in composting

Monitoring for Quality

• Staff measure compost temperatures

• Compost is sent for quality testing

• Finished compost is used in Trent gardens and on lawns

Successes

• Trent’s Compost System diverted 86 tonnes in 2011

• Aramark Food Services has replaced all plastic and foam take-out containers with compostable options

Tonnes of Compostable Material Processed

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12

Challenges

• Contamination is our biggest challenge

• On-going education as new students arrive at Trent

• Evaluating new compostable take-out products

• Challenging the perception that compostable is better than reusable