Composting at UC

What can be composted at UC?

Turning food scraps and organic waste into compost significantly reduces the volume of waste sent to landfill, making it an important waste minimisation tool. Compost can then be used by gardeners to improve soil fertility and structure. Food and organic waste generated at UC is taken offsite and made into compost. You can put all food scraps and organic material in the green wheelie organics bins and small bench top containers in staff kitchens. This includes:

• Fruit and peels
• Sandwiches
• Cakes
• Meat
• Coffee grounds
• Flowers
• Any other plant material
• All food waste (both raw and cooked)
• No pizza boxes
• No tea bags
• No takeaway food/drink packaging, even if marked "compostable" or "bioplastic"
• No cardboard or paper

Worm Farming on campus

UC's worm farm was launched during International Compost Awareness Week to trial a form of localised composting on campus. It is a collaboration between Te Ngaki o Waiutuutu (Waiutuutu Community Garden), UC Compost Club, UC Sustainability and UCSA. The  student-led Compost Club collects a bucket of food scraps every week from the UCSA kitchen.

Along with the bacteria and micro-organisms, the worms break down the food into worm castings, which is a nutrient-rich compost that can be used on our campus gardens. 

20kgs of food waste has been diverted and placed in the worm farm since May 2023. It takes time to build up the numbers and castings. There is a plan to expand the worm farms in 2024, and look to collect food waste from university accomodation.