MCW Food Services Initiate Composting Program

MCW joined forces with Compost Crusader in June to begin diverting compostable food scraps from trash cans and area landfills to a more sustainable solution of creating nutrient-rich soil. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Composting is nature’s way of recycling and is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce trash in landfills, address climate change, and build healthy soil.” This includes myriad environmental benefits from reducing volumes and methane production in landfills to improving water quality and plant growth.

Both the Hub Café and MCW Cafeteria have agreed to participate in this program, sending waste like coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, and eggshells to the compost pile. Since June 10, MCW food preparers have diverted nearly 1,500 pounds of compostable waste, equivalent to offsetting over 60 gallons of gasoline use, or over 1,300 miles of driving.

Compost Crusader was founded in 2014 with a mission to “create a culture around sustainability that empowers individuals and organizations to divert organic material from the landfill in an economically and environmentally sustainable way.” Compost Crusader works with a variety of customers in Southeast Milwaukee including hundreds of universities, elementary schools, and restaurants and thousands of residential customers.

Thank you to the MCW Facilities and Operations team for enabling this partnership to support campus sustainability efforts and improve environmental health in our community!