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Composting in your dorm is one of the easiest ways to tread more lightly on the earth! I feel like a lot of people talk about composting but how do you actually pull that off in a dorm? There are so many things to consider. Will it stink up the whole space? Where can you bring your compost when you’re living on campus? Will your roommate think you’re a hippy?
I put together a convenient guide to composting in your dorm to hopefully make it more approachable and I promise it won’t add another stressful thing to your to do list!
How composting helps the environment
How could doing something as simple as composting in your dorm help the planet?
Basically, food that goes to the landfill gets trapped under other debris while it’s decomposing. Since it isn’t exposed to air it then produces a gas called methane which is harmful to the planet. Instead of sending your food scraps to turn into something harmful you can let it decompose in your yard or whatever location you end up bringing your compost to (more on this later!).
Decomposition is a natural system that the earth goes through to turn leftover food (or wilted flowers, fallen leaves etc.) into nutrition for new growth to occur. So when you compost, you are saving nutrients from the food you bought (or grew!) and are able to use it to fertilize (give nutrients to) your new plant!
It really is that simple.
We have overcomplicated things by disrupting natures waste management system. So how do we reset the system and go back to being a part of the perfect system that nature created?
And that’s where composting in your dorm comes in!
How to Compost in your Dorm (or apartment!)
1. Focus on a plant-based diet
Cheetos do not make the best compost. They taste great but they don’t have quality nutrients for the earth (or your body to be fair!) Be sure to focus your meals on plant-based options so you have good items to compost.
No, you do not need to go vegan overnight. Adding more color to your plate will do the trick and will give you enough substance to make composting worth it!
2. Decide where to store compost
Composting does not have to stink up your entire dorm. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works the best for your schedule, eating habits, time you can commit to composting etc. but it is possible!
Do your research and then just get started. Eventually, it will be second nature to throw your food scraps in the compost rather than the trash can.
Later on in this post I discuss the best compost storage options.
3. Talk with your friends and roommates about composting
Ok so this is not a necessary step to composting but it is still worth mentioning! Share your composting stories with your friends. The more we talk about it, the more normalized it is.
Think about recycling, it wasn’t as common but as more and more people did it, leaders of communities started to take notice and offer the service to more neighborhoods. Hopefully, one day all households will have a compost bin right alongside their trash can and recycling bin.
Well, ideally no trash can at all! Anyways, tell your friends the highs and lows of your composting experience and show them your method once you get a hang of things!
You probably talked with your roommate about other cleaning tasks so why not add the compost bin to the list of chores. If you get them on board you can divvy up who takes the compost to the drop off each week which just makes life easier.
Where to store your compost
Easy Compost storage
These first two options are super simple and you can honestly get started composting today with these options.
1. Freezer
This is the best option for keeping your dorm from smelling like rotting food. The one downside to this option is that it can take up a lot of space if you have a smaller freezer. Personally, I keep a leftover zip lock bag in my freezer and it works well!
2. Sealed container under the sink
If you eat a heavily whole foods based diet this could be the best option for you. You can get a gallon sized bucket to store under your sink to hold all your scraps. That way you have enough space to fill up all of your food scraps and can make fewer trips to the compost drop off. Make sure that the container has a nice seal on it so the smell doesn’t escape!
Advanced compost storage
These options work great if you are hoping to use your compost for houseplants or your own personal garden. They take a bit more time and commitment but overall it still is pretty simple.
1. Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is using the help of worms to break down your food scraps! I actually haven’t done vermicomposting in a container personally so I will direct you to this post that offers more in-depth info about how to set it up and maintain it.
2. Bokashi method
The bokashi method is essentially a fermentation process that can be used to create a tea-like substance from your rotting food scraps.
You layer your food scraps with a bran until your bucket is completely full. Then you can drain the liquid and put it on your plants. It offers a rush of nutrients to your plants! The leftover scraps can be planted in your garden or dropped off at a composting site.
You can purchase a bokashi kit here.
Bokashi is a Japanese word that means fermented organic matter
Which compost bin is best?
Use what you have
The most eco-friendly option is to just use what you have! That could be an old ziplock bag, a grocery plastic bag that can be tied up, or a plastic salad container. Repurposing items (especially plastic!) is a great way to divert waste from going to the landfill.
This can be a great option if you are just getting started with composting and do not want to invest in a compost bin quite yet.
Purchase a new compost bin
If you are ready to make composting a part of your daily life, can’t find a container to repurpose or simply know you will get more use out of a beautiful container, you can purchase a new one.
First, be sure to stop by the thrift store to see what kinds of containers could work well for your dorm. Try to look for containers that have a nice seal and won’t take up too much space on your countertop or under your sink.
If you don’t have a container or can’t find one second-hand, check out these options!
General tips for composting in your college dorm
Don’t forget about it when you go home for break.
It is so easy to just GO when finals are over, summer has arrived or the holidays come.
Be sure to empty out your compost bin and thoroughly wash it out before leaving your dorm. If not you will have a lovely surprise when you return back to campus.
This might seem like an obvious tip but it can make a big impact!
Keep learning about sustainability!
Composting is just one way you can help to take better care of the earth. Be sure to take sustainability related classes or do research on your own time. Maybe even consider joining a club, getting an internship, or doing volunteer work that is focused on sustainability.
You will learn new things and meet like minded people! It is easier to keep the habit of composting (or other eco lifestyle habits!) going when you are constantly immersed in sustainability conversations and have more knowledge about the topic.
It makes doing tedious things like dropping off your compost before class feel more worth it!
Clean out your compost bin regularly
As much as I want to say compost never smells, that’s just not true. It is decomposing material after all. I just use a simple castile soap like this one and let the bin dry out in the sun.
I try to wash it out every time I empty my compost.
Locate where to bring compost
So this is the part that may take the most research! Try to find a place that you can easily access so it doesn’t feel like such a hassle to drop off your compost.
Community gardens
The gardeners will be super grateful for your compost! And who knows, maybe you will be inspired to sign up for a plot of your own.
Sustainability center
Most campuses these days have a sustainability center or a club that may have a compost drop off. If they don’t I can pretty much guarantee you they will know a place you can bring your compost to.
Talk with waste facilities on campus
If you want to go all out, you could send an email to the waste facilities center to see if they would ever consider starting a compost pick up at your campus.
Make friends that live in a home and see if you can drop off compost there
They might even be open to starting a garden!
Farmers market
If you have a farmer’s market in your area they sometimes have a compost drop off option. If not, you could talk to the farmers about dropping your compost off at their farm.
Curbside pickup
If you are lucky there are some cities that offer curbside pick up options for compost. You may have that option and not even know so be sure to ask around!
Pay for a service to pick up your compost
There are really cool businesses popping up that will come to your house and pick up your compost. This option is kinda fancy (and can be pricey!) so this could be a cool thing to ask for as a gift.
Local forest
If your college is in a wooded or rural area you may be able to literally give your compost back to nature. Be sure to research and see if this is ok to do in your area. You don’t want to get in trouble for dumping.
Accept defeat…for now
If all else fails, you may need to accept that there aren’t any composting options right now available to you.
BUT!
Learn what you can about composting so that when you have the option to compost you can! College won’t last forever. You never know where you will end up after graduating. If you can be a composting pro before you even start then you’re one step ahead of the game!
Is composting in your dorm worth it?
There are a lot of ways to help the earth and composting in your dorm is just one of them.
Once you do the research and get into the habit of composting it will make you wonder why you didn’t start sooner. It can seamlessly fit into the other cleaning tasks of your dorm cleaning schedule and if you get your roommates on board it will be even easier.
Everyone can do something to live more sustainably and composting is a simple way to contribute to healing the earth!
Have you tried composting in your dorm? Do you have any other questions about composting in your dorm? I would love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
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