Composting

Wesleyan composts food scraps from Usdan Dining Hall, student residences, and campus offices.  Students and Physical Plant staff transport the compostable material to Long Lane Farm, where it is processed in two Earth Tubs.  Finished compost is used as a soil amendment at Long Lane Farm.  If you're new to composting and want to learn more about Wesleyan's programs, check out these FAQs. Broad and effective participation from the campus community will motivate expansion of composting programs throughout campus.

Dining Halls

Pre-consumer composting (from food preparation) is currently available at Usdan Dining Hall. The Sustainability Office hopes to expand this program to Summerfields, Pi Cafe, and other on-campus dining locations as resources become available. In March 2013, Usdan Dining Hall began composting post-consumer food scraps. 

Student Residences

In September 2010, students began a residential composting initiative. The program is now run by the Wesleyan Sustainability Office and led by student Composting Interns, Zach Burns '14 and DeNeile Cooper '15. Residential Composting enables all 350+ residential units with a kitchen to compost their food waste. Students who wish to compost will receive a 5 gallon bucket for household collection and are responsible for emptying the bucket into the black composting bin nearest their residence. Composting is currently available for the following locations: woodframes, Senior Fauver, Hi/Lo-Rise, graduate housing, Program Houses, as well as Butterfields and West College (WestCo) residence halls. The Composting Interns are currently looking to expand residential composting to more students and to all residence halls. If you'd like to request a bucket and start composting or are interested in joining the student Composting Committee, email the Composting Interns.

Campus Offices

In October 2012, the Sustainability Office began offering the opportunity for faculty and staff to participate in the campus composting program. Participating offices receive a bucket for collecting compostable food waste. If your office, floor, or building would like to receive a blue bucket, please appoint a faculty or staff composting coordinator who will be responsible for checking and emptying the building’s blue bucket into the black composting bin nearest your office. Once you have appointed a composting coordinator, please email Jen Kleindienst with the faculty or staff coordinator's name, extension number, and campus address.  A Composting Intern will deliver the bucket to your office and answer any questions you have about the program.

What is compostable?

Compostable

Not Compostable
  • fruits and vegetables (raw or cooked)
  • tea bags
  • coffee grounds and filters
  • bread, cereal, rice, pasta, and other grains
  • eggs and eggshells
  • unbleached paper towels and napkins
  • meat
  • dairy
  • oils
  • liquids
  • recyclable materials (glass, metal, plastic)
  • bleached and/or inked paper products
  • cleaning products/chemcals
  • trash
  • "compostable" plates, cups, and cutlery

Where do I compost?

There are now 11 black (or green) composting bins located on campus that are open to use by all students and employees (see map).  All composting participants are asked to empty their 5 gallon buckets into the bins. 

  1. Hi/Lo-Rise Apartments (outside of Hi Rise Laundry Room)
  2. The Bayit (157 Church St., between the Bayit and WesWings)
  3. The Butterfields (against the wall of Butterfields A)
  4. Brainard Ave. and Home Ave. (53 Home backyard)
  5. Exley (loading dock along Pine St. opposite the dumpsters)
  6. Warren St. and Fountain Ave. (backyard)
  7. Vine St. and Knowles Ave. (side yard)
  8. Fauver (between Senior Fauver and Bennet Hall, next to the Senior Fauver sign)
  9. Hewitt (outside Lounge on the side of Hewitt facing Vine St.)
  10. Farm House (344 Washington St. backyard)
  11. Full/Writing House (202 Washington St. side yard)

For questions about dining or office composting programs, email Jen Kleindienst. For questions about residential composting, email the Composting Interns.