1. Composting on Campus Katy Kresge Assistant Director of Residential Services Lehigh University MACUHO 2012

2. Goals  Outline the history of the residential composting program at Lehigh University.  Identify successes and challenges of the program.  Identify opportunities for you to implement a program on your campus.

3. What is Composting?  The natural process that occurs in nature resulting from the decomposition of organic materials.  Using a compost bin allows for the same process that occurs in nature to occur at an accelerated rate.  Composting is important because it significantly reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.

4. History of Lehigh’s Residential Composting Program  2008- “Green House” LiveLehigh! Community had composter installed funded by Residential Services.  2010- Alpha Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon had composters installed funded by Green Fund grant.  2012- Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Tau Alpha and Phi Kappa Theta installed composters funded by Residential Services.

5. Phi Kappa Theta, July 2012

6. How Does the Program Work  Chapter must complete a Composting Packet.  Information on how to successfully implement and coordinate program.  List of materials needed.  Composting agreement, which requires signatures from President, House Manager, Chef, Housing Corp./Alumni, Chapter Compost Coordinator and Residential Services.

7. How Does the Program Work?  Residential Services purchases composter.  Composter installed over semester break.  Sustainability Coordinator runs frequent checks to ensure each composter is in good health.  Chapter keeps log of how much material is being composted and when it is being emptied.  When ready, the chapter issues a work order to have bin emptied and taken to local farm.  Chapter is given an end date for program at the end of each semester (last week of class).

8. Materials Needed  The Composter  Lehigh uses Gaiam- Sun Mar 400 Retails for $499.00 *Funded by Residential Services

9. Material Needed  Flyers and Signs explaining program.  Provided by Sustainability Coordinator.  Buckets, cleaning supplies & gloves.  Provided by Greek Chapter.

10. Challenges  Smell  Equal parts green and brown materials.  Attracting Animals  Petri dish of vinegar deters animals.  Maintaining Active Composting  Pile should be turned every day.  Process should take two weeks.  Excess Material  Once a pile is started and turned, nothing else should be added.

11. Challenges  Making sure the chapter is invested in the program long term.  Accreditation

12. Successes  125 lbs. of trash diverted per month/per house  5,625 lbs. of trash diverted.

13. Keys to Success  Group needs to be committed to program.  Expectations need to be clearly communicated.  Needs to be a plan of succession.  Administration needs to have frequent health checks of composter.

14. Questions/ Thank You! Katy Kresge Lehigh University kak411@lehigh.edu