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About Composting at Humboldt State University

The Compost Program portion of CRP first began as an educational branch of the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) and later expanded to being a component of CRP. The compost program provided and still provides the function of composting the organic wastes from the university cafeterias on campus. The history of the compost site itself has been one of impermanence. It was initially located on the CCAT grounds then moved to a nearby site and recently moved to its current but temporary location.

The Compost Program initially collected only the food waste generated by the on campus cafeterias. Over the years it has expanded to include the student club coffee tables and select high human traffic sites around the campus. The composting program currently composts from the two main dining halls on campus, the Depot and Jolly Giant Commons, along with diverting all the food waste from the five clubs operating coffee tables on campus, and providing the additional service of a food waste drop off site for students within the community.

This program aims to benefit the entire campus community not just through waste diversion but also by providing a place for students and community members to learn about composting. The educational opportunities include learning the basics of backyard composting to vermicomposting and troubleshooting and the larger environmental benefits associated with taking responsibility for one's own waste.

Compost Basics

Why should I start my own compost pile?

Composting at home provides benefits for your home and your community. Composting can reduce your waste bill by 30% because of the diversion of food scraps from your garbage can. This diversion also returns the precious nutrients to your soil rather than wasting them in a landfill. These nutrients improve your soil's fertility and moisture retention, so if you're a gardener, you can use compost instead of paying for fertilizer.

Composting is the natural way to recycle natural materials. By building a compost pile, you are speeding up the natural process of nutrient cycling to divert your waste and improve your soil at the same time.

What do you need to compost?

To compost effeciently, your compost pile needs "green" materials, "brown" materials, air, and water. Green material is anything from fruits and vegetables to coffee grounds to green yard waste. Brown materials can be branches and leaves, paper, or egg cartons. With a combination of these two types of material and fresh air and water, your pile should be happily decomposing!

What cannot be composted?

Meat and bones should not be composted because of rodent and/or sanitary problems. Similarly, dog and cat manures should not be composted to reduce the risk of disease. Yard waste that is greater that a 1/4 inch in diameter should not put in your backyard compost pile because it will take a long time to break down.

Trouble Shooting

If nothing is happening in your compost pile, it is probably either too dry, or you have too much brown material in it. Try watering the pile and adding in more food wastes.

If you pile has a rotten smell, it may be too wet or may not be getting enough air. Add more brown material and turn the pile once a day until the smell is gone.

If there are pests and/or flies around your pile, you may
have too much green waste on top of the pile. Turn the pile more fequently to incorporate all the material or add more brown material to balance it out.

When is your compost finished?

Your compost is done once it has turned into the "black gold" that gardeners look for in their soil. It should be dark, uniformally textured, and sweet smelling. This compost can be mixed into your soil, placed on top as a mulch, or used as potting soil.

 

For compost pickup, please contact CRP at 707-826-4162

Compost service is limited to on-campus waste exclusively, the limited size of CRP's compost demonstration site limits the amount of compost we can take. Please check the calender for our Friday Compost Days to learn how to build your own compost site.
Warren House 53, Arcata, CA 95521| (707) 826-4162 | recycle@humboldt.edu