Associated Students of the University of Washington
Student Senate
Session 16
 

A Resolution in Support of Expanding Composting on the University of Washington Campus

WHEREAS the University of Washington (UW) began a composting program in 2004 by collecting coffee grounds and pre-consumer vegetative food waste from the UW Club and three Housing and Food Services (HFS) kitchens; and

WHEREAS during 2005 and 2006 composting continued to expand as additional HFS dining facilities and coffee shops joined the composting program; and

WHEREAS HFS instituted a post-consumer composting program starting in 2007 in cooperation with the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED); and

WHEREAS the program has been expanded each year since, and now allows composting in all HFS-controlled dining facilities and coffee shops and on a number of floors in the seven residence halls; and

WHEREAS UW Recycling & Solid Waste (RSW), a program under UW Transportation Services, is working to expand composting within the UW Medical Center; and

WHEREAS the take-out boxes, coffee cups, and other food service wares at all HFS dining facilities and coffee shops are compostable; and

WHEREAS an audit of all waste produced by the University of Washington between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2003 found that 43% of all waste produced by the University was compostable[1]; and

WHEREAS this percentage was found to be the same in lower campus laboratories[1], despite these being locations separate from the primary HFS dining facilities; and

WHEREAS this audit was completed prior to current compostable materials use by HFS; and

WHEREAS effective 1 July 2010 compostable or recyclable food service ware shall be required for all food service businesses within Seattle under Seattle City Council Bill number 116250[2]; and

WHEREAS several food service businesses near the UW Seattle campus have already begun using compostable containers or utensils; and

WHEREAS many students who are unable to compost at their current location place compostable materials in garbage receptacles; and

WHEREAS a consistent issue with the current compost program is that students often place non-compostable materials into compost receptacles; and

WHEREAS this prevents a reduction in the volume of solid waste produced on campus proportionate to the use of compostable materials; and

WHEREAS landfills are sealed, preventing compostable materials diverted to them from biodegrading aerobically; and

WHEREAS organic material in a sealed landfill biodegrades anaerobically, leading to the production of methane, a greenhouse gas twenty times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide; and

WHEREAS the University of Washington has received a grade of A- from The College Sustainability Report Card since 2008[3]; and

WHEREAS an expansion in the use of composting will help the University maintain its grade; and

WHEREAS the University of Washington’s vision and strategic priorities highlights “our role in preserving and enhancing Washington;”[4] and

WHEREAS expanding the use and availability of composting on campus would assist in preserving “the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest”[4] by reducing the need for landfills within the state; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:

THAT the ASUW supports all current composting programs run by HFS and RSW; and

THAT the ASUW commends RSW for efforts to expand composting within the UW Medical Center; and

THAT RSW be encouraged to conduct another audit of waste collected from the University of Washington; and

THAT the ASUW requests the expansion of composting to every resident floor within the residence halls no later than the first day of Autumn Quarter 2012; and

THAT the ASUW requests that RSW develop and implement a pilot program for the addition of compost receptacles to designated campus buildings no later than the first day of autumn quarter 2012; and

THAT, should the pilot program or waste audit justify such a measure, the University develop a plan to add compost receptacles to all student-use campus buildings no later than the first day of autumn quarter 2015; and

THAT if a pilot program is created, SEED and other registered student organizations will be encouraged to institute comprehensive education initiatives to ensure that the student body knows proper compost procedure; and

THAT a common and distinctive appearance for all compost receptacles be maintained in order to minimize student confusion; and

THAT a brief period of review and discussion regarding the current state of composting on campus be added to the ASUW Student Senate's agenda during the fourth meeting of autumn quarter for all years up to and including 2015; the time allocated to the agenda item is not to be less than five minutes; and

THAT organizations affiliated with the UW, such as residences within the Greek community, be encouraged by their respective senators, other representatives, or by the general ASUW body, to implement compost collection programs; and

THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Eric Johnson, Program Operations Manager for RSW, and HFS director Pam Schreiber.

[1] City of Seattle Ordinance Number 122751

[2] University of Washington Waste Characterization Study, February 2004

[3] The College Sustainability Report Card

[4] University of Washington Vision and Values

History of Legislation

02/21/2010: Submitted for consideration
03/30/2010: Referred to the General Affairs Committee
04/06/2010: Reported Favorably by the General Affairs Committee
03/30/2010: Placed on First Reading
04/06/2010: Placed on Second Reading
04/06/2010: Amended by the Senate
04/06/2010: Passed by the Senate

Legislation ID:
R-16-20

Date Submitted:
02/21/2010

Sponsor:
Matthew D Zemek

Cosponsor(s):
Evan Smith