Composting at Farewell Picnic and Community on the Commons on Aug. 25 diverted more than 2,000 pounds of waste from the landfill.
During Move-In Weeke
nd, Elon diverted more than 2,000 pounds of waste from the municipal landfill. At the Farewell Picnic and Community on the Common, food scraps, napkins and compostable cups, silverware and plates were collected and later sent to a nearby commercial composting facility rather than the landfill.
This was the first year compost collection occurred at the Farewell Picnic, an event with about 3,600 people. At Community on the Commons about 1,600 meals were served. Both events were successful thanks to the efforts of Physical Plant staff, orientation leaders and volunteers and Office of Sustainability interns. Such a large, visible effort shows that composting at small and large events can be done successfully at Elon.
Over the weekend, there was an average of 2.1 pounds of waste generated per person. Composting is one way to decrease Elon’s solid waste generation, and it is certainly a better option than the landfill. However, it is still important to limit food waste whether it is composted or not. Both composting and reducing food waste are impactful steps every member of the Elon community can take to help Elon achieve carbon neutrality by 2037.
If you would like tips on how to successfully compost at your next event, contact the Office of Sustainability or if you are a student, contact your Eco-Rep.