University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Search
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Classifieds
Opinion
Subscribe
Entertainment
Send a Tip
Podcasts
Donate
In-Depth
Corrections

Subscribeto our newsletter

Minnesota Daily Logo

Sunday, December 15, 2019 Print Edition

Donate

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Podcasts
  • Classifieds
  • Special Issues
  • Corrections
  • Send a Tip
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Podcasts
  • Classifieds
  • Special Issues
  • Corrections
  • Send a Tip
Search

Subscribe

The independent news source for the University of Minnesota campus, now only a click away. Subscribe to the Minnesota Daily's e-newsletter for full sports coverage, updates from the newsroom, and a pick of the week's top features.

Minnesota Daily Newsletter

Fill out my online form.

Donate to the Minnesota Daily!

The Minnesota Daily has been training student journalists and serving the University of Minnesota community since 1900. With your help, we will continue to produce award-winning journalism and provide excellent training for students in all areas of news production. We collect donations through GiveMN; please click below and donate today!

MINNESOTA DAILY | GiveMN


12/10/2017, 11:10pm

Residence hall compost program planned for fall 2018

Last week, MSA and campus recycling groups unveiled plans for a composting program for all University of Minnesota residence halls.

By Cleo Krejci
Residence hall compost program planned for fall 2018
Ananya Mishra
Environmental sciences, policy and management junior, Claudia Althoen, poses for portraits with an organics recycling bin at the Yudof Hall Club Room on Friday, Dec. 8. She started the organics recycling pilot program at Yudof Hall in collaboration with Dana Donatucci and Shane Stennes.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Organics recycling will be a full-time part of University of Minnesota residential halls in fall 2018. 

Approved on Dec. 4, the new composting program is based on a successful organics recycling pilot in Yudof Hall last spring.

Housing and Residential Life, the Minnesota Student Association and the University of Minnesota Recycling Program worked with Claudia Althoen, MSA student project lead for organics recycling. Althoen led the pilot in her apartment-style student housing from Mar. 13 to Apr. 25.

A junior in environmental sciences policy and management, Althoen said the idea stemmed from her hope to improve sustainability on campus.

“It’s surprising to see the results for the pilot … went better than expected,” Althoen said.

Ananya Mishra
The organics recycling question box at the Yudof Hall front entrance as shown on Friday, Dec. 8. The organics recycling pilot program at Yudof Hall was started by ESPM junior Claudia Althoen in collaboration with Dana Donatucci and Shane Stennes.

The program allows students to dispose of food waste and other biodegradable materials that will be composted into soil.

Dana Donatucci, University of Minnesota Recycling Supervisor, said the shift to organics will generate an estimated 20 percent reduction in residence hall waste costs. 

He added that based on past work, outgoing waste from residence halls is about 25 percent compostable material, all of which is currently burned for disposal instead of being composted.

MSA and HRL are working on a survey for spring 2018 residence halls to work out details of the organics program. A secondary pilot in a traditional residence hall will take place in the spring before final implementation in fall 2018.

Talk of organics recycling has been in the works for a couple of years, said Daniel Elliott, associate director of facilities with HRL at the University.

 “It was great last year when Claudia had approached the department … that was sort of the catalyst, you know, to ... get us moving it forward,” Elliott said.

Will Macheel, director for MSA's Sustainability Committee and applied economics sophomore, said organics recycling is one of the most common topics students bring to his attention.

He added that implementing organics recycling around the residential halls sends a positive message about environmental sustainability to the campus community.

Macheel added that he hopes to educate students about the environmental benefits of organics recycling, including how the process reduces methane production, a greenhouse gas more environmentally harmful than CO2.

“We’re excited to see not only just what happens with the residence halls, but … the overall plans for campus expansion, as those are kind of being developed right now within the campus administration,” Macheel said.

Donatucci said it will take at least two years before organics recycling is added to all waste stations around campus.

Tauby Yonah Mintz, Yudof resident and junior pursuing a bachelor of individualized studies degree, said she started composting as soon as she learned of the pilot in Yudof, though she has noticed that some students are wary of participating.

“I think students can really benefit from it, and also the environment can really benefit from it,” Mintz said. “I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Share



Related Stories

Guard Marcus Carr brings the ball up the court at Williams Arena on Monday, Dec. 2.

Marcus Carr leads Gophers to upset over No. 3 Ohio State

By Nick Jungheim

The Gophers celebrate a scored point during the game against the Fairfield Stags in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Dec. 6.

Gophers volleyball advances to the Elite Eight

By Nolan O'Hara

Outside hitter Alexis Hart pushes the ball over the net during the game against the Fairfield Stags in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Dec. 6.

Gophers volleyball Final Four bound

By Nolan O'Hara


The Minnesota Daily welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Editor's Picks


12/12/2019, 12:07am

For many, federal protections for those with disabilities are not enough

By Hana Ikramuddin

ADA requirements may not be enough to ensure accessibility to those on campus that need it, advocates say.


12/11/2019, 9:58pm

A step to rebuild relationships: U hires director of tribal relations


12/11/2019, 8:34pm

Proposed increase in visa application fee could impact UMN students


12/11/2019, 9:28pm

After high-rise fire, Cedar-Riverside begins to heal


Podcasts


12/11/2019, 11:58pm

Episode 45: In a step to rebuild relationships, U hires director of tribal relations


12/5/2019, 8:11pm

Episode 13: Wrapping up football, Gophers head into basketball season


12/5/2019, 12:34am

Episode 44: Welcome to the star gazing party


Minnesota Daily Logo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Contact
  • Archives
  • Advertise
  • Content Diversity
  • Ethics & Policies
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2019 Minnesota Daily

Powered by Solutions by The State News.