The importance of composting on campus
Composting is a healthy and eco-friendly way to recycle organic materials such as food scraps and leaves. The result is a fertilizer that will enrich soil and improve the health of plants. Not only is the return worth the minimal effort it takes, but by composting, there is a decrease in greenhouse gasses, pesticides, and more. Composting has been practiced in some capacity for thousands of years but is still overlooked by many people.
When organic materials decompose in a landfill, they are doing so without adequate oxygen levels. When this occurs, they release natural gasses, especially methane. Methane, an extremely common gas, is one of the most abundant greenhouse gasses. As scientists have said for decades, greenhouse gas emissions are a leading cause of global warming. When organic matter decomposes naturally, it has sufficient oxygen and therefore reduces the harmful effects of greenhouse gasses.
Another benefit is the lessened use of pesticides. When crops are grown with compost-rich soil, pests, diseases, and fungi are more likely to be fought off. Countless healthy bacteria grow in compost, which acts as the first line of defense against the troubles that often ruin agriculture. In addition to reducing the need for pesticides, compost eliminates much of the need for fertilizers. The wide variety of nutrients in compost and the slow release of those nutrients prove to be healthier for the plants. In many communities, the compost is either delivered or picked up by local farmers who repurpose it by adding it to the soil in their fields.
In the fall of 2018, SUNY Geneseo started its composting program, which proved to be an immediate success. After just one academic year, the college collected nearly 7,000 pounds of organic waste, all in the name of bettering the environment. The waste was collected in small bins placed around campus, mostly in the residence halls. The collected materials are then used to enrich the soil used for the landscaping on campus and in the Geneseo community. The accumulated compost is said to be used by Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS) for meals in the dining facilities, although CAS claims to purchase their produce from American Fruit and Vegetable, a distributor based out of Rochester. Regardless, the compost is used in both the Roemer Arboretum and in the eGarden.
Those who live in one of the residence halls on campus have likely seen the green plastic bins, but may have failed to read the laminated paper attached to the front. It may be easier to dump all of their trash or waste into one of the five giant trash cans. In doing so, people are taking the easier route instead of doing their part in helping the earth and the community by simply walking a bit farther and properly disposing of their waste.
With October being Campus Sustainability Month, new compost bins are popping up around campus, specifically in the dining complexes. This change is in partnership with Impact Earth Composting, a local company. “Our goal is to decrease food and other consumer waste by preventing it from going into landfills,” reads an email from CAS to Geneseo students. More bins in high-traffic areas should increase the amount of compost collected and decrease the amount of organic waste tossed into heaping landfills.
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