CAFÉ WASTE
Elger's Study:
Who: Led by the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, but also included those who ate at these campus eateries and partook in this pilot.
What: The University of Michigan implemented a post-consumer composting pilot in the Michigan League.
Where: Various places like the Michigan League's Beanster's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and University Catering.
Why: The pilot was a test to see if post-consumer composting is a possible solution for our campus, to figure out the potential challenges that would come from this, and examine the costs and benefits of doing so.
Suggestions from the Project:
-student ambassadors to teach others how to participate
-use of visual elements in signs
-bin placement should be determined early
-early stakeholder engagement and communication
Relevant Links:
http://sustainability.umich.edu/news/post-consumer-food-composting-pilot-michigan-league
http://sustainability.umich.edu/2025-campus-sustainability-goals-u-m
http://www.wecareorganics.com
Extra Information
Post-consumer composting is a way of collecting leftover food from the consumer. This involves compiling food that normally would have been discarded into waste bins. Other materials including napkins, paper goods and wooden goods, such as coffee stirrers. Since 1998 our campus has collected nearly 870 tons of waste!
