Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
4-17-2019
Abstract
College campuses create a large amount of landfill-bound waste, which produces greenhouse gases. By reducing the waste that enters landfills, greenhouse gas production decreases. Composting is an easy, effective way to do so, because landscaping and food waste decomposes naturally with little added effort. SUNY Geneseo’s composting program is relatively new. Its original goal is to prevent compostable waste from entering the landfills (rather than creating a specific finished product). Here, compostable materials like landscaping waste and pre-consumer food waste are deposited in piles, and the resulting product is currently used for landscaping fill as well as in the e-Garden. If we took the time to look more closely at our compost, we could do more than just reduce the waste entering landfills. By investigating the composition of the finished compost to determine its nutrient content, chemistry, biodiversity, or possible contaminants, we could contribute to healthier soil on campus, save money on landscaping, and possibly even make a profit by selling the finished product if it is found to be desirable. With this project I will be setting up the possibilities for future research that I intend to carry out in the coming academic years.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Leimanis, Vizma, "Composting at SUNY Geneseo: Potential Improvements and Investigations" (2019). Papers, Posters, and Recordings. 23.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-works/23