The University of Vermont

Recycling & Waste Management

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Food Waste Composting

Composting Food Waste

In Dining Halls

food_compost_cart
Composting is a process that takes organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, and turns it into a nutrient-rich soil.  At the University of Vermont, food waste is collected from several locations each day and taken to the Intervale Compost Facility for composting.  Intervale Compost is a non-profit business located in the north end of Burlington just one mile from campus. 

On an average week, UVM collects 4.96 tons of food waste per week to be composted at the Intervale. The collected food waste is dumped at the Intervale, where it is layered with other organic wastes such as leaves, yard debris and manure. The material is formed into long piles, or "windrows", and mixed periodically so that air and moisture can circulate through each pile. As the piles heat up, the food waste breaks down into a rich, dark soil. The finished product is used on farmland, and by home gardeners and landscapers.

In most University Dining Services locations, the UDS kitchen staff are separating food scraps during preparation and cooking.  In some locations, students are asked to scrape their leftovers into carts marked for "Food Waste" before they send their trays to the dish washer room.

Click here to view the architect-designed food scraps collection area in Cook Commons Dining Hall.

In Residential Areas

mini_compost_pail Students have asked for the opportunity to collect food waste from their rooms and student kitchens in the residence halls. UVM Recycling has asked the UVM Eco-Reps Program to help with this pilot collection program. Students can get small plastic tubs which can be used to store food scraps prior to composting. (Okay, so these are really empty 32-oz yogurt containers, but we put a nice sticker on them and call them "a compost tub").   Students then must bring their own food waste to one of the existing compost collection sites on campus-- generally these are the dining hall locations.  Students are responsible for emptying and cleaning out their own compost tub; the Housekeeping staff will not be picking up food waste. 

If you would like your very own small compost tub, please email  <ecoreps@uvm.edu> and let us know your name, residence hall, and room number...and an Eco-Rep will deliver one to you.

Composting Guidelines

DO Compost Do NOT Compost

  • Fruit & Vegetable Peels 
  • Any Food Leftovers 
  • Coffee Grinds/Tea Bags 
  • Meat Scraps & Bones 
  • Dairy & Cheese Products 
  • Noodles & Pasta 
  • Paper napkins only
    		•
  • Paper cups, plates or bowls 
  • Dishes or Silverware 
  • Coffee Creamers or Stirrers 
  • Styrofoam Cups 
  • Plastic Bags or Saran Wrap 
  • Food Wrappers or Paper
    		•


    food_in_pail In a few residence halls, student Eco-Reps have set up a food waste collection pail in a central area of the hall or kitchen. Otherwise, students must bring food waste to dining locations to add it to the compost collection carts. Note these are the same carts used by Dining Services staff:
    • Simpson Hall loading dock 
    • Slade Hall, outside building facing Robinson Hall
    • Marsh-Tupper Hall, outside east side of the building near the big parking lot
    • Harris-Millis Loading Dock, outside building in the little "alley" between the Dining Hall and Millis Hall
    • Living-Learning, in the loading dock of the building, between Buildings "D" and "E" which you can access from either inside or outside the building. 
    • Billings Student Center, on south side of building, facing Williams Hall, there is a large green wall and the green carts are located in that vicinity.

    How It's Collected

    A contracted hauler, All Cycle Waste, uses a special dump truck to collect food waste from Burlington-area restaurants, grocery stores and institutions, including UVM.
    compost_truck

    The truck is equipped  with a hydraulic operated bucket that can dump two "toter" style carts at once.  Challenges include: keeping the carts clean, and keeping them from freezing solid in the winter months.
    compost_truck_2
     
    The carts are lined with a special biodegrabable liner made of cornstarch.  These help keep the insides of the carts moderately clean.  
    compost_cart_close

    The carts are kept inside or outside the dining services loading dock, depending on the availability of space. Due to our inclement climate, we have many challenges such as freezing carts in the winter time.
     food_cart_at_dock

    Last modified December 01 2008 01:07 PM

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