It isn’t easy being green, but why not try?
Composting on campus: a big project in the works. After finishing the last bite of an apple, it’s almost second nature to toss it into the trash can before heading off to class. But what happens then?
Published on Feb 7, 2014 | Â鶹AV Tribune
Written by Jenny Shen and Marlee Vinegar
Few people know the fate of their food waste. But for many Â鶹AV students, the matter wasn’t just a concern—it was the beginnings of a significant undertaking.
Under the right conditions, organic matter—such as landscaping clippings and food—decompose into nutrient rich soil that can be used as fertilizer to sustain new life. Under the wrong conditions, like in a landfill, the rotting waste contributes to critical urban environmental problems. Landfills cause groundwater pollution by leaching toxic liquid into the soil and water table. Furthermore, the oxygen-free environment within the garbage heaps leads to the production and release of the greenhouse gas methane, which ultimately lead to negative changes in climate.
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