News

Composting begins in IMU River Room

August 30, 2010

University Housing and Dining at the University of Iowa began composting food waste this week in the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) River Room Café.

Customers can place most of their food and beverage waste in compost bins located in the River Room, along with wax-coated cups and napkins. All to-go food containers, plates, and tableware in the River Room and coffee cart are also compostable.

Posters will provide directions on materials that can be composted. Students from campus-based environmental groups will assist lunch customers with composting activities during the first few days.

University Housing and Dining has been composting River Room kitchen waste since September, while kitchen composting has been collected at Hillcrest and Burge residence halls since 2007. Approximately one ton of food waste from UI dining areas is composted each week at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.

Bob James, assistant director for retail in Housing & Dining, says the composting program diverts waste from the landfill and provides a useful product that can be used on campus and in the community. It also helps the university reach its goal of reducing 60 percent of its waste by 2020, he adds.

See http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/dining/ and http://housing.uiowa.edu/departments/residentialdining/waste_not.html for more information.