BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University is doing more than talking trash.
A new composting initiative by the University is rerouting thousands of pounds of food from area landfills to a local farm. The effort, which began in late January, has already resulted in 4,200 pounds of food waste being sent from IWU for composting.
Composting, or the process of turning organic materials into naturally enriched soil, was originally proposed by a Green Task Force at IWU nearly a decade ago. The idea was adopted by the GREENetwork, a University organization composed of students, faculty and staff that works to make the campus more sustainable.
“Composting food enables Illinois Wesleyan to fulfill its mission to function in a more environmentally sustainable manner,” said R. Given Harper, who is the a member of the GREENetwork as well as the George C. and Ella Beach Lewis Endowed Chair of Biology.