St. Thomas Residence Life announced the addition of compost bins inside residence hall waste rooms in a campus-wide email Feb. 8.

St. Thomas has been collecting compost outdoors, in classroom buildings and at the dining halls since 2017.

“I was excited, and I’m proud of the moves St. Thomas is making to reduce waste,” assistant community director of Tommie North Hannah White said. “I think the new compost bins are an educational opportunity for students.”

Some students, including first-year Helen North, are happy about composting more and reducing waste, but suggest that more can be done. North said Residence Life should add another bin in dorm rooms for students’ compostables to go with the current trash and recycling bins.

“Sometimes it’s hard not to just throw your compostables in your dorm trash can. If I had another trash can, I would definitely use the compost bin more,” North said.

First-year Preston Palmer wasn’t aware of the new compost bins right away. He commented on the lack of advertisement about the new changes around the halls’ poster boards.

“I still think they’re great, but I just was aware of the addition. I get so many emails a day the Residence Life one got lost,” Palmer said.

It’s important to be mindful of what can and can’t be composted. Refer to the graphic above for examples of compostables.

“If a green compost bin is contaminated with even just a few non-compostable items, the entire bin must be sent to the incinerator instead of a compost facility, and the university is charged up to a 70% tax,” the Residence Life email stated.

Any to-go container from St. Thomas is compostable. Food waste is also compostable, so there is no need to scrape out the leftovers.

Paper products, organic material and plants can also be composted.

The composting bins will not only benefit the university, but also the students who already composted on a regular basis.

Sophomore Nicole Rauzi, who has been composting for a few years, says the compost bins are beneficial to her.

“The new composting bins will save me trips to other composting bins around campus. I’m so relieved. It’ll be easier for me to reduce waste,” Rauzi said.

The new composting bins inside the residence halls will help bring St. Thomas closer to a fully sustainable campus.

Sydney LaBelle can be reached at labe7208@stthomas.edu.