Don’t let composting efforts go to waste

The Barnard College EcoReps have recently made an important stride toward going green by making a compost bin on Lehman Lawn available to students at Barnard and Columbia. The EcoReps should increase their efforts to get students involved in the composting program so that the initiative can be expanded into every residence hall—and interested students should do their part by participating.

By turning organic waste into nutrient-rich gardening soil, composting seeks to mimic the natural process of decomposition. Composting reduces the amount of waste dumped into landfills, which pollutes the environment and takes up large areas of space. Recognizing these benefits, Barnard EcoReps made preparations to launch its composting program earlier this semester. But due to the limited size of the bin on Lehman Lawn, composting was only open to the 40 suites that signed up for the program at the beginning of the school year. After noting that some suites were not participating, the EcoReps have now opened composting to everyone on both Barnard’s and Columbia’s campuses.

EcoReps should be commended for launching a composting program and making the right decision to open it to every student. But their efforts will go in vain without enough student participation and greater availability at other locations. Currently, not every residence hall has a bin, which makes composting too inconvenient for almost all except the most ardent environmentalists. Students must collect their food scraps after meals and wait until they can find time to go to the bin on Lehman Lawn. This may be difficult, given that dorms are scattered throughout Morningside Heights and winter is approaching. Still, students should try to participate in composting, and EcoReps should try to advertise their composting efforts—these actions will reinforce each other and may encourage Columbia to purchase more bins for more residence halls. By reaching out to students and collaborating with resident advisers, EcoReps can better inform more students on campus of the new program. In addition, they should continue working with their Columbia counterparts to put a bin on Columbia’s campus as well, and Columbia should take steps to support EcoReps in making composting available to all.

Composting can be a simple way for students to help the environment without taking too much time out of their busy schedules. An expanded green waste disposal program at Columbia, one that makes composting the preferred method of getting rid of organic waste on campus, is an essential step in keeping Columbia and Barnard ahead of the curve in environmental stewardship.

Tags: Opinion, Editorial Board, Staff Editorial