Since 2009, McMaster has continually worked to expand its campus composting program. Compost bins now exist in many buildings on campus in both kitchens and common areas such as libraries, the Student Center, and most residence buildings.[1]
In addition to the efforts of McMaster’s Facility Services Department, student groups have also been working to foster responsible production and consumption, including composting. Zero Waste McMaster is ‘a club focused on promoting sustainable, low-waste living on campus and in our community’.[2]
According to McMaster’s 2022 Waste Audit, only 6% of what’s found in the garbage is organic material, signaling the effectiveness of the University’s composting program.[3] However, based on visual audits, some composting bins have very little contamination by items that should have been placed in the garbage or recycling while other composting bins are highly contaminated. Composting bins in eatery kitchens are used most effectively while the public-facing bins are not.
The challenge for SUSTAIN 2SS3 students is to 1) conduct visual audits to determine and report common misconceptions and/or behaviors that result in improper use of public-facing composting bins and 2) develop two advocacy strategies to address them.
While this project is open to student creativity, recommendations include: focusing on composting bins in the Student Centre, Mills Library, and John Hodgins Engineering Building; conducting visual audits of human composting behaviors in each building to see what’s working and what’s not; also conducting visual audits of bin material to confirm or revise findings from behavior audits; create advocacy strategies to address the 1, 2, or 3 top misconceptions and/or behaviours.
Community Project Champion(s):
- Nelly Okwu-wolu, Project Team Executive, Zero Waste McMaster
Project Liaison:
- Dr. Kate Whalen, Associate Director, Academic Sustainability Programs
- https://facilities.mcmaster.ca/sustainability/waste/
- https://www.instagram.com/zerowastemcmaster/
- https://facilities.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2023/02/Waste-Audit-2022.pdf