Composting

***Download the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS pdf***

Compost Count

UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD 

Previous to our composting program, Sebastian's was disposing of 26 bags of waste per day!  As a result of everyone's hard work and due diligence to the program, we are drastically reducing our waste generation!!  Keep up the excellent work.

How does this program change how I dispose of waste?

You will now be sorting your waste into one of three waste containers:

• Blue Bin for Co-mingled recycling: plastic #1-7, glass, and metal containers (see the recycling page for details on recycling)
• Green Bin for Compost:  all food waste, napkins, and Sebastian's NEW disposable-ware (plates, cups, straws, etc) that are made from compostable, naturally derived materials.
• Brown Bin for Trash:  any other material that is NOT compostable or recyclable (such as plastic bags, food wrappers, and other waste)

*** When in doubt, throw it out! (as trash***

It is very important that the organic waste is not contaminated with any plastics or non-biodegradable material, so if you are unsure as to whether something is compostable, please throw it in the trash!

Have questions? Contact greenideas@hsph.harvard.edu with any questions or thoughts about the new composting program.

What can be composted?

• all food waste (including meat, dairy, grains, fruit, vegetables)

• tea bags and coffee grinds 

• napkins and paper towels

• compostable cutlery from Sebastian's (NEW!)

• compostable plates and clamshells from Sebastian's (NEW!)

• compostable coffee cups from Sebastian's (NEW!)

• compostable straws & straw wrappers from Sebastian's (NEW!)

• wood coffee stirrers

Volunteers needed to educate the HSPH Community!

We are looking for volunteers to help educate the HSPH community on the new composting program. Sign up today to be a composting ambassador for an hour or so during lunch the week of May 5th - 9th or 12th - 16th. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt (see below).

Contact Laurie Torf at 617-432-1045 to sign up.

Want to learn more about the NEW compostable take-out containers and cups?

The new compostable take-away materials are made with polylactic acid (PLA).

PLA products are made from dextrose, a sugar extracted from corn. No. 2 yellow dent corn is the cheapest, most abundant source of fermentable sugar in the world. In addition to being 100% renewable, the polymers in the new take-away containers emit 80% less greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum-based polymers and require 65% less fossil fuels to produce.

Certified compostable bioplastics completely degrade within 180 days. They do not create any toxic byproducts as they compost. Industrial composting facilities carefully regulate temperature and humidity levels to encourage quick degradation. In an ideal environment, PLA loses molecular weight and becomes a food source for naturally present microorganisms.

If you put compostable material in the trash can or recycling bin it will not compost. In an anaerobic environment such as a landfill, compostables do not have the oxygen they need to biodegrade. Compostable containers cannot currently be recycled.

Signage

Below are examples of the signs that are in the trash-recycling-composting areas; click on posters to get full size pdfs to print and hang on your floor.

Other Posters

Click on posters to get full size pdf versions.