Recycling

Compost Site

Since 1993, ISU has operated a compost site. The original compost site was built using funds from a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant acquired by FP&M Campus Services. The site opened for operation in December 1993 and since opening, we have been able to reduce landfill expenses for main campus yard waste by approximately $30,000 per year.

In 2002, the compost operation moved to the south edge of campus combining FP&M Campus Services composting operation with ISU Farm Services. Not only was the switch to a single compost operation more cost effective, it also provided the farm compost site with the carbon source (leaves, grass clippings) they needed to compost manure and animal bedding material. FP&M Campus Services continues to oversee the compost site operation.

Campus Services gathers grass clippings, leaves, sod waste, and old wood chips that have begun to decompose from their own operation and delivers these to the compost site. They also gather greenhouse material (from horticulture, agriculture, and forestry departments) and Seed Lab germination waste including sand, seeds, soil, and deliver these to the compost site. They are able to divert over 2,000 tons of waste material from the landfill each year. This is in combination with the estimated 1,600 tons of animal waste, bedding material, and additional compost bulking agents composted from the ISU farms.

The material to be composted is turned at least once per week using a compost turner. Within three months, the compost is usable. Excess moisture and inability to turn the compost frequently enough in the winter due to snow and cold temperatures appear to be the only problems.

The compost site generates approximately 2,000 tons of finished compost per year. Campus Services use the finished compost as a soil additive, top dressing, and incorporate it into all campus landscaping projects. Compost is applied to ISU bulk crop land as a crop nutrient source. Crops grown on this land are used as a feed source for the Dairy and other ISU livestock farms. The Student Run Organic Farm and University researchers are also supplied with compost.

During the first year in operation, Campus Services hosted a demonstration/open house (a requirement of the DNR grant). While education was not an original component of the composting program, instructors from several university classes use the site as a teaching facility for field trips. ISU Ag and Biosystems Engineering is currently conducting research and demonstration of vegetative filter strip ratios at the new site. This project is funded in part by the Iowa DNR. Scat Engineering has provided a compost turner to ISU on a demonstration loan.

Note: We do not compost any food waste. All brush is chipped for use as mulch.

Contact Les Lawson, FP&M Campus Services (515 290-4006) with questions about the ISU composting operation.