The Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation is teaming up with the University of Colorado to advance foodwaste composting in the State. Grant funding was provided recently for CU-Boulder to research and recommend ways to handle this challenging part of the waste stream.
Institutions like colleges, hospitals, and correctional facilities generate significant amounts of foodwaste. A typical cafeteria can serve over 3,000 meals each day and the resulting organic scraps and food-related paper can comprise up to seventy-five percent of total waste generation by weight.
When done properly, composting is a cost-effective strategy for diverting materials from landfills. It has the added benefit of creating valuable fertilizer that institutions can use on their grounds or generate revenue from.