Compost

Composting is a sustainable practice that not only reduces waste but also enriches soil, supports ecosystems, conserves water, saves money, mitigates climate change and fosters a sense of environmental responsibility.

Colorado Compost Guidelines Are Changing

Compost guidelines for the Front Range have changed to food scraps and yard & plant trimmings ONLY! Watch for updated information about what this means for composting on the CU Boulder campus. In the meantime, compostable paper and plastics are not being accepted for composting in campus bins. Bathroom compost is not currently being composted. Food waste composting continues in all CU Dining kitchen operations.

Read more about Front Range changes   Read more about campus changes  

 

Acceptable Compost Items on Campus

Food Scraps

Remove stickers, twist ties, rubber bands, coffee filters and packaging.

Yard and Plant Trimmings

No strings or elastic bags for flower bouquets. No paper yard bags.

Compost Locations

Academic and administrative buildings 

  • Food waste bins are available at a select number of buildings on campus. For more information or to request a food waste bin email recycling@colorado.edu

Dining halls

  • Uneaten food goes on the tray return and then ends up in the dish room.
  • All food waste is composted.
  • Food waste from CU Catering and the UMC is taken to a local farm and used as animal feed

CU Athletics

  • CU Athletics has committed to Zero Waste efforts at their events since 2008, with recycling efforts happening long before that. For more information about zero waste in CU Athletics through Ralphie's Green Stampede.

Graduate & Family Housing 

  • Yard waste bins are available during the gardening season at the community garden at Newton Court.

Why Should I Compost?

 

Composting keeps organics out of landfills

Compostable items do not biodegrade in landfills because organics need oxygen, water, the perfect nitrogen to carbon ratio, and some mixing from time to time to be successful!

 

Compost reduces greenhouse gases

Methane is 26 times stronger than Carbon Dioxide when it comes to greenhouse gases. And when compostables are stuck in landfills with no oxygen to help decompose, they begin to slowly release methane and can do so for years and years after burial. Therefore, composting helps to stop more greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

 

Compost creates nutrient rich soil for landscaping and gardening

When you compost properly, you are helping create nutrient rich soils (in your backyard or through industrial processes). The resulting soil created from composting can be very beneficial to your own garden and help your veggies grow big and strong.

 

Composting can reduce your trash bill

If you are apart of a "Pay-As-You-Throw" system, like here in Boulder, you can reduce your trash bill. Since you will be composting the organics you once tossed in your garbage, you can get a smaller garbage bin. If you don't want to compost in your backyard, no problem! Boulder will lower your trash bill but will NOT charge you more for bigger composting (or recycling) bins!

The Compost Cycle

Step 1

Food scraps, yard trimmings, even newspapers are discarded into your home compost bin.

Step 2

When the time comes, take your compost bin to the curb to be collected by your local compost heroes.

Step 3

On collection days, your local compost collecters take your compost to the local composting facility.

Step 4

Here in Boulder A-1 Organics collect, process and screen your compost for any pesky contaminates and then start the compost process.

Step 5

After time of mixing and watering which keeps the decomposition process moving, your compostable inputs leave the facility as nutrient rich soil and mulch.

Step 6

Soils and mulches are used for farming to grow some hearty crops.

Step 7

These crops are turned into healthy food products which can be consumed or even used to make more compostable products!