Composting and Recycling
The WSU Waste Management program manages all compost and recycling generated by Dining Services operations. This program is just one of many ongoing efforts to increase sustainability at WSU through education, prevention, recycling/reusing, treatment and disposal.
Compost
In 1994, WSU was the first university in the nation to build commercial-scale composting facility. Located on the southeast corner of campus, the facility composts between 10,000-11,000 pounds of organic waste per month. Approximately, 1 percent of this is food waste.
On a university level, organic materials, including animal bedding and yard waste, accounts for around 50 percent of all campus-wide waste products. Dining Services generates 227 tons of compost per year.
Compost produced at the facility is used as soil enrichment in campus greenhouses, by the research farms and by the landscaping crew.
Recycling
Glass, plastic, cardboard and tin containers used in food preparation are all recycled through WSU’s recycling center. All dining centers provide receptacles for recyclable containers.
Recycling is gathered from around campus and transported the on campus recycling facility where it is processed, bailed and then sold as a commodity. As a result, the energy expended to transport and process campus recycling is significantly less.