Davidson Joins The Climate Registry
Davidson College has joined "The Climate Registry" which is a multi-national organization that allows groups to voluntarily inventory, verify, and publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Please see The Climate Registry Site for further information. Davidson's New Compost is here!
Davidson's new Compost Project is now complete. So you ask, "What is Composting?"
Compost is a mixture of organic substances, like food and yard waste, that decomposes aerobically to form a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Davidson’s new composting project, set to begin in mid-March, will collect yard waste from across campus, and food waste from Vail Commons, the Union Café, the Union Outpost, the Wildcat Den, the Guest House, and Connor Eating House. These materials will be fed into Davidson’s very own Green Drum, a commercial-grade composter from BW Organics. The waste will spend 5-7 days tumbling around in the rotating drum reaching temperatures over 130 degrees F. The rotation of the drum allows oxygen to reach the materials and helps release heat and gases. Because this process combines carbon (food waste), nitrogen (yard waste), oxygen, and moisture, the resulting compost will be odorless, free from pathogens, and unattractive to pests. Once the compost has been removed from the Green Drum, it will be moved to a curing yard. The compost must rest for 3-6 months to complete its transformation into mature compost that can be used to nourish the garden, trees, and flower beds across campus. This project, in conjunction with the Vail Commons organic herb, fruit, and vegetable garden, truly represents sustainability. The food produced in the garden will be used in the Vail Commons kitchen. Food waste from Vail Commons will then join food and yard waste from across campus to become compost. This compost will then be spread on the Vail Commons garden, helping new herbs, fruits, and vegetables grow. This circle provides fresh, healthy food for our campus, reduces the amount of waste we send to a landfill, and reduces our greenhouse gas emissions. Turning waste into usable compost is just one way that Davidson strives toward sustainability. For more initiatives, check out our sustainability website.
"Going Green, Recyclemania Results"
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