Composting
At Loyola University Chicago, composting helps turn organic waste into a resource for healthier soil, enriching the future while keeping valuable materials out of landfills.
What Can I Compost?
Organic materials decompose naturally to create a nutrient-rich mixture known as compost. Compost helps soil retain moisture, provides minerals and nutrients for plants, and reduces the need for fertilizers.
At Loyola, we can commercially compost a lot, including:
- All food—fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, cheese, and grains
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Tea bags (no staples)
- Non-waxy paper plates and cups
- Pizza boxes
- Paper napkins
Printable sign - What can a Rambler compost?
How to Compost at Loyola
There are several ways for students, faculty, and staff to participate in composting at Loyola outside of the dining halls.
Compost Bucket Program
Compost in your own dorm, off-campus apartment, or office with the Compost Bucket Program! Interested students, faculty, and staff can complete a brief training and application form to receive a free one-gallon compost bucket and weekly drop-off schedule.
Compost Bucket Program Application Form
Log into SharePoint with your UVID to submit.
The Compost Bucket Program is available during the academic year only. Drop-off times may change each semester.
If you are interested in composting but not eligible for our program, consider the residential pick-up providers listed by the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition.
Paper Towel Composting
Shared office or residential floor restrooms are a great opportunity to collect paper towels for composting. Sign up to sponsor a paper towel composting bin on your floor and help divert used paper towels from the landfill.
Paper Towel Composting Application Form
Log into SharePoint with your UVID to submit.
Composting at Events
Composting can be incorporated into campus events, large and small. The Office of Sustainability offers Zero Waste Event support to help event organizers collect food scraps and other compostable materials while also properly sorting recycling and landfill waste.
Our team can provide compost and recycling bins, signage, training, and guidance to help your event successfully divert waste from the landfill. To receive support, please submit a request at least three weeks before your event and plan to have dedicated staff or volunteers available to monitor waste stations during the event.
Zero Waste Event Application Form
Log into SharePoint with your UVID to submit.
A Brief History of Composting at Loyola
Loyola started composting food scraps from Simpson Dining Hall in 2012. By the end of the year, the efforts had diverted 62 tons of food scraps from landfills. The program eventually expanded to all dining halls on the all Loyola campuses, making it easy for the Loyola community to turn their discarded food scraps into compost that helps build healthy soil.
Through dining halls, landscaping, special events, the compost bucket programs and more, Ramblers divert around 300 tons of organic waste from annually. This is then recycled into healthy soil amendment (compost) to be added to local farms and gardens.
Composting Made Easy at Loyola University Chicago
Learn More About Composting
Explore more about composting, from preventing contamination to finding additional composting options in Chicago.
Avoid Compost Contamination
Knowing how to compost correctly is essential. Putting non-compostable items into a compost bin is called contamination and can cause compostable material to be sent to the landfill instead.
The composting service Loyola uses will not accept material with more than 10% contamination. Non-compostable items such as plastic bags can also become stuck in composting facility machinery, costing facilities time and money.
Other Ways to Compost in Chicago
Not participating in a Loyola composting program but still looking to divert your food scraps from landfills? Chicago has additional opportunities to compost.