EMU Food Services has set up three compost bins, two in the Fishbowl and one in The Buzz coffeehouse, in which students can deposit their compostable coffee cups.
The most important thing for the University community to know, EMU Food Services Director John Costello said, is that the bins are not typical recycling receptacles.
“The trick is going to be hopefully educating the public to the idea that this stuff can’t be mixed with pop bottles or noncompostable goods,” said Costello.
Depositing noncompostables into the bins can contaminate the other contents.
“If those things aren’t taken out, then that entire batch would probably disqualify for composting,” Costello said.
Although at this point the bins are only located within the EMU, Costello said he and Campus Recycling, a team “instrumental” to the launch of the compost pilot program, hope to eventually spread them campus-wide.
“Part of the problem with coffee cups is we sell them (inside the EMU) and they often migrate,” said Costello. Karyn Kaplan, manager of the recycling program, said once the financial impact and waste impact of the new compost program is evaluated, Campus Recycling and EMU Food Services will consider placing bins at residence halls and other EMU Food Services locations, such as the café in Lillis Business Complex.
Kaplan said things have gone smoothly so far. The main problem has stemmed from people putting lids and non-compostable coffee cups into the bins, she said. Signs on the bins specify which cups are acceptable. But, “so far, so good,” Kaplan said.
“We don’t want people to over-recycle,” said Kaplan. “We’re trying at our end to set this up the best way possible, and we really need the public to help us by just following the instructions on the containers.”
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