Food and compostable material are collected separately from garbage, corrugated cardboard, paper, and bottles and cans. Once collected, the material is taken to a compost facility off-campus and made into a new soil product.
Food and compostable material are defined as food scraps, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, coffee grounds, teas bags, plants, flowers, leaves, tree trimmings, sawdust, soiled paper and napkins, pizza boxes/donut boxes, and compostable serviceware that are certified by Biodegradable Products Institute (http://bpiworld.org/BPI-Public/Approved.html). Food waste does not include metal, glass, plastic, foil, cans, Styrofoam, diapers, kitty litter or pet waste, ash, rock, stone, liquid waste, chemicals, including bleach, detergents, and degreasers, batteries or non-compostable serviceware.
Stanford University began food and compostable material collection in January 2003. As of October 2007, all dining halls, 43 student managed houses, and 3 cafes/restaurants on campus have food and compostable material collection service. We are currently diverting about 67.5 tons or 135,000 pounds per month. The next phase of the program will target cafes and special events on campus.
For more details on the food waste collection program, including requirements, please click here.
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Yard Waste is collected from two areas on campus: the Grounds Department and the Faculty/Staff Residential Area.
The Grounds Crew separates garbage and yard waste into different dumpsters specially designed to attach to the back of
their trucks. Once full, the Grounds Crew stages the dumpsters in specific locations according to the material inside of
them. A PSSI frontloader garbage truck and a yard waste truck empty as needed. Yard waste is collected weekly from
each residential customer using a 96 gallon wheeled cart. Once collected, the yard waste material is taken to an
off-campus compost facility. We are allowed to backhaul a percentage of finished compost for campus use.
