Waste Sorting at Brown

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1 Waste Sorting at Brown

2 What is compost? Composting is a process that breaks down organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment which can be used in place of petroleum-based fertilizer to grow more food.

3 Why compost? Slows climate change» When organic materials decompose in landfills without oxygen, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Cycles nutrients» Food scraps can be turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment to grow more food, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Diverts waste» Diverting food waste for composting is a component of Brown s commitment to sustainability. Brown s Commitment to Waste Diversion Brown aims to have a 50% diversion rate by the year We are currently at 36.4% and need your help to reach our goal.

4 Background on Composting» Compostable material is collected by the Compost Plant and taken to their facilities on local farms, where it is converted into nutrient-rich natural fertilizer to be used in the Rhode Island community» From July 2017 through June 2018, we diverted over 571 tons of food and waste through composting that would have gone to the landfill. That s over 1 million pounds!

5 What can be composted? ALL FOOD & MOST PAPER

6 What can be composted? ALL FOOD» Fruits & vegetables» Meat, bones, dairy» Baked goods» Coffee grounds + filters» Tea bags (staples & string OK)» Edible liquids

7 What can be composted? MOST PAPER» Any paper without plastic or wax on it» Napkins, paper towels» Brownware to-go containers» Greasy pizza boxes or paper SMALL WOOD ITEMS» Wooden coffee stirrers» Chopsticks PAPER EXCEPTIONS» Paper cups are trash» Wax paper is trash

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9 What cannot be composted? PLASTIC METAL GLASS Common contaminants: paper cups, utensils, condiment containers

10 What cannot be composted? NO PLASTIC, METAL, OR GLASS:» No gloves» No foil or wrappers» No plastic utensils (including compostable utensils)» No plastic wrap or bags» No plastic containers (including compostable containers)» No coffee cups (including compostable coffee cups) What are compostable items?

11 What are compostable items? Bioplastics (look like plastic but made from plants) Coffee cups Plant starch utensils These items are all labeled compostable. However, Rhode Island does not currently have an industrial composting facility, which breaks down these special items using very high heat. When these items are put in a compost bin at Brown, they contaminate the compost, causing the same impact as putting regular trash in the compost.

12 Unsure about something? If you don t know if something can go in the compost bin:» Put it in the trash now» Check the signs» sustainability@brown.edu to double check for next time! Rule of thumb: When in doubt, throw it out

13 What can be recycled? METAL: Cans, trays, pie tins, crumpled foil (mostly clean and dry) PLASTIC: empty containers greater than 1.5 FL. OZ. What if there s food in my container? What about bottle caps? What about plastic lids?

14 What about metal bottle caps? Metal bottle caps and lids: From glass jars remove from jar and recycle separately (it s about surface area!) From glass bottles remove from bottle and throw in trash or put inside metal can and pinch it shut From metal cans leave the lid partially attached and bend it into the can, or place it in the bottom of the can and pinch it shut Back to What can be recycled?

15 What about plastic lids? Plastic bottle caps or lids must be attached to the bottle or container to be recycled! Loose lids or caps are flat plastic and are trash! This means you can put a lid on a plastic cup, plastic bowl, or any other rigid plastic container, and still recycle them! Bonus fact: plastic straws are always trash Back to What can be recycled?

16 What if there s food in my container? Plastic containers must be empty at a minimum! Rinse whenever possible! But a little dried peanut butter or yogurt is okay! Back to What can be recycled?

17 What can be recycled? PAPER: Clean paper, magazines cardboard, and beverage cartons GLASS: bottles and jars What about my frozen pizza box? What about post-it notes and receipts?

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19 What is TRASH? SOFT PLASTIC: plastic wrap, plastic bags FLAT PLASTIC: utensils, straws, lids PAPER CUPS, HOT CUPS and LIDS Condiment containers

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21 Fun Facts! What about paper plates? Compost if they are not-waxy (any paper you can write on easily with a pen), but trash if no compost available; NEVER recycling Examples: brownware paper plates from Andrews, white paper plates What about my pizza box? Recycle even if there s a little grease but compost if soaked or has food (can compost other paper and cardboard that is dirty with food!) What about the foil on the top of my yogurt? Trash because it s printed (example: Chobani foil tops)

22 Final Fun Facts! What about tea bag wrappers? Compost uncoated paper tea bag wrappers (Lipton and Tazo) (but too small to recycle) Bigelow, Twinings, Stash and other waxy/foily bags are trash What do I do with liquids? Compost edible liquids (or dump into sink if no compost available) before recycling plastic cups What do I do with broken glass? Trash (put in a hard container (like a shoe box) and write broken glass)