Green Mountain College
OP-18: Waste Diversion

The GMC Compost Program. This program is directed by the Sustainability Office. A work-study funded Compost Coordinator and SCGF funded (temporary) Assistant Compost Coordinator are responsible for daily collection of compost from kitchen/dining hall and transportation of compost to Cerridwen Farm. Food scraps are fed to pigs (when appropriate) and all other food waste is put into rotating compost piles. Leaves from campus operations are used as a source of nitrogen, as are animal manures. Compost Coordinators work with Farm Manager for direction on compost pile processing. Compost Coordinators are responsible for weighing compost and keeping records of amounts of waste diversion for the Sustainability Office. Compost collection in the residence hall hubs is a new extension of this program. Following a successful trial period in the spring of 2011, all residence halls will have one compost bin that will be collected by the Compost Coordinators 2-3 time/week. Compost Coordinators are responsible for educational outreach and volunteer recruitment. Regular "compost sorts" are performed outside the dining hall to display the amounts of compostable waste thrown away in the garbage. Compost Coordinators assist with leading New Student Orientation and the training of resident assistants, EcoReps and other members of the Green Job Corps to help with outreach. GMC Recycling Program The GMC Recycling Program is directed by the Sustainability Office. Four Recycling Crew members are responsible for collection of all household recyclable items and dual-sorting of recyclables (paper or containers). The Recycling Crew schedule is coordinated by the Sustainability Office Manager. Volunteers often help sort recyclable materials at the trailer to fulfill service hours. Recycling Bins in all buildings and outside are purchased by the Student Campus Greening Fund on as-needed basis. Carts for collection are paid for by Sustainability Office. Green Move Out 2011 The 2011 Green Move Out at GMC diverted an estimated 5,700 lbs of waste from the landfill (as compared with 2,950 lbs in 2010). A team of 5 Eco-Reps, led by two student managers, worked during the last week of finals through the day after commencement on this project. Signs and emails advertised the event in the residence halls the week before students began to vacate the campus for the summer holiday. Students were encouraged to bring unbroken, working and pre-owned items to designated areas in the lounges of their residence halls. Many students left a number of items in the hubs of each floor. The Green Move Out Team moved usable items that could be donated/saved down to the lounges the week of move-out. “Lounge Shopping” was advertised among the campus community from 3-6 daily during the week prior to graduation. Most undergraduates moved out during this week. A number of faculty, staff and other students took advantage of this opportunity to take unwanted items. An estimated 500lbs of clothing, furnishing, bedding, appliances, etc were taken to new homes. Before Commencement, the Green Move Out Team bagged up unwanted clothes and bedding and donated them to local charities (Poultney thrift store), the Rutland Women’s Shelter and the Rutland Area Humane Society (all items went through quality control to ensure cleanliness and usability). Non perishable food items were donated to the Poultney Food Shelf. Three thousand pounds of goods will be re-purposed on campus. Reusable items were placed in storage in Bogue and the Free Store to be given away/sold to new students in the fall. Eco Reps will be allowed to move back into the residence halls a few days early to help facilitate this Green Move-In Sale during Orientation as a fundraiser. Office Freepo was created in the basement of Pollock Hall and will re-purpose the 500lbs of office supplies collected. E-waste was also collected, stored in IT offices and will be recycled by Facilities. This project was sponsored by the Sustainability Office in collaboration with the Office of Residence Life.