Sustainability News

What is composting

The EPA defines composting(opens in a new window) as the managed, aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. Recent Ohio University Honors Tutorial College environmental studies(opens in a new window) graduate Catherine Galla views composting as a solution to combat waste created by humans anywhere throughout the food supply chain.

While official definitions for composting exist—like the one provided by EPA—Galla says generally there is an overall lack of terminology, language and vocabulary surrounding organic waste and composting. With fewer ways to discuss it, oftentimes there is a lack of awareness regarding composting and the sustainable disposal of biodegradable waste.

“I see composting as the act of physically taking organic waste and using it to a higher power in order to create a useful product out of human-caused waste,” said Galla. “I see waste as a social issue, something that humans have created for themselves, and I see composting as a really easy solution to get everyone from every walk of life involved in thinking more about their trash, because when we throw things away, it doesn’t just go away, there’s never an ‘away.’”

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In terms of what can be composted, Galla says it is important to look holistically at the entire supply chain, going beyond what didn’t get eaten at lunch or dinner. Opportunities for composting throughout the supply chain present themselves in different “phases” including, but not limited to:

• Harvest
• Transportation
• Consumption (food that goes bad at the grocery store)
• Preparation (discarding food scraps while cooking)
• Post-consumption (uneaten food)

“I see organic waste going all the way to beginning—harvesting something and its gone rotten, all the way to the grocery store with things that have been spoiled for whatever reason, things that have passed their expiration date at the grocery store.” Galla explained. “Then all the way up to the consumption phase, making soup and you have the ends of tomatoes or carrots that you won’t include in the soup that is compostable organic waste.”

How to compost

Composting is something just about anyone can do—it requires minimal effort, expense or expertise . The U.S. EPA suggests starting with an area that has good drainage and year-round access or utilizing a bin with holes in the bottom for drainage. This bin or area will serve as the receptacle for food scraps.

A basic backyard compost pile needs nitrogen-rich “greens,” such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells, as well as carbon-rich “browns” such as dry leaves, twigs and shredded paper. With a balanced amount of greens and browns the final product should have the desired soil-like consistency.

Composting is nature’s way of recycling. It is one of the most powerful actions to reduce trash, address climate change and build healthy soil, according to the EPA.

Galla believes that anyone with the means should consider composting at home.

“Composting gives people more agency over what happens when they choose to discard waste,” said Galla. “It’s also a basic climate mitigation strategy and a very easy way to bridge the gap in terms of connecting with the average person about what they can do to help and contribute to something larger than themselves and the waste that they produce.”

For a more detailed guide on how to compost at home, visit https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home .

Municipal composting and the future of waste diversion

Backyard composting can be a simple, viable solution to divert waste, but certain factors can make it impossible for some. Accessibility and visibility are two barriers that come to mind for Galla. Not everyone has access to land and outdoor space to start a compost pile and not everyone has been educated about the importance of waste mitigation, climate change and tools like composting that help create climate-resilient communities.

“Anyone can compost and divert their organic material, but what is the infrastructure surrounding people in their natural environment—like their houses, yard, apartment—that allow them to do it,” said Galla.

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Municipal, or curbside, compost collection is a prime example of infrastructure that can be implemented to give everyone a chance to participate in waste diversion while also making climate resiliency something visible and tangible. Galla says that infrastructure like municipal compost collection increases access, compliance and ease and creates excitement about participation.

“[Infrastructure like municipal composting] doesn’t put the burden of the whole operation onto everyday people,” explained Galla. “It increases people’s overall access to being able to divert organic material from the landfill.”

Beyond compost collection at the municipal level, other organizations and nonprofits have begun offering similar services. Rust Belt Riders, a Cleveland-based worker-owned cooperative that was the subject of Galla’s thesis, collect organic waste residentially and commercially. Until municipal composting becomes more widely available, organizations like Rust Belt Riders are taking it upon themselves to build composting infrastructure.

Composting at OHIO

Every day the Ohio University Compost Facility(opens in a new window) processes more than five tons of food waste with the largest in-vessel composting system at any college or university in the nation(opens in a new window) . Each ton of waste that OHIO processes is a ton diverted from landfills where it creates harmful methane emissions.

Beyond being good for the environment, the Ohio University Compost Facility also serves as an important educational model—spreading awareness of sustainable practices, allowing students to witness a circular process first-hand and providing them with a big-picture look at what’s possible in the realm of sustainability.

Each facet of the Ohio University Compost Facility was also designed with sustainability in mind. The facility produces renewable energy through solar panels, collects rainwater for cleaning and utilizes a waste oil burner for heat during the colder winter months.

Composting is a simple, cheap and effective way to reduce methane emissions and divert waste from landfills all while creating a nutrient-dense soil. The act of turning food scraps and other organic material into a useful product protects the environment, empowers people to think about the waste they produce and creates resilient communities.

Recent OHIO Honors Tutorial College environmental studies graduate Catherine Galla discusses composting accessibility and awareness.

Ohio University will celebrate Earth Day with a series of events for students, faculty, staff and area residents on Monday, April 14, from 12-4 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda.

The celebration of campus and community sustainability efforts is part of the Earth Day celebrations being held around the world. The International Earth Day Network collaborates with partners in more than 192 countries to support environmental protection and peace.

Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, the Earth Day activities at Ohio University are free and open to the public.

Ohio University will celebrate Earth Day with a series of events for students, faculty, staff and area residents on Monday, April 14, from 12-4 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda.

The celebration of campus and community sustainability efforts is part of the Earth Day celebrations being held around the world. The International Earth Day Network collaborates with partners in more than 192 countries to support environmental protection and peace.

Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, the Earth Day activities at Ohio University are free and open to the public.

As spring blooms in Athens, the town’s cherry blossom trees, hiking trails and greenery invite locals and Ohio University Bobcats to relish in the relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the outdoors.

April not only symbolizes springtime in the neighborhood but also welcomes Athens Beautification Month, a time in which residents and Bobcats are encouraged to give back to the environment.

The Center for Community Engagement teams up with the Office of Sustainability each year to coordinate the events, all of which focus on areas of need.

As spring blooms in Athens, the town’s cherry blossom trees, hiking trails and greenery invite locals and Ohio University Bobcats to relish in the relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the outdoors.

April not only symbolizes springtime in the neighborhood but also welcomes Athens Beautification Month, a time in which residents and Bobcats are encouraged to give back to the environment.

The Center for Community Engagement teams up with the Office of Sustainability each year to coordinate the events, all of which focus on areas of need.

For many Bobcats, playing outside with different insects calls to mind a dirty, yet fun childhood. Luckily for Ohio University Bug Club members, reliving these happy memories and putting childhood passions into practice is possible with several insects to discover in Athens.

During a typical Sunday meeting, the club can be found exploring insects native to Athens, with the goal to save and protect. Species may be researched, relocated and cared for, further educating members and benefiting the environment.

For many Bobcats, playing outside with different insects calls to mind a dirty, yet fun childhood. Luckily for Ohio University Bug Club members, reliving these happy memories and putting childhood passions into practice is possible with several insects to discover in Athens.

During a typical Sunday meeting, the club can be found exploring insects native to Athens, with the goal to save and protect. Species may be researched, relocated and cared for, further educating members and benefiting the environment.

The Ohio Economic Development Association awarded the City of Athens the 2024 Gold Level Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities Award. The award recognizes an organization or local government’s commitment to environmental oversight and excellence.

Notable benefits of the award include enhanced environmental assistance from the Ohio EPA, reduced time to obtain permit modifications and marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments.

To obtain the award, the city had to complete environmental, economic and social sustainability requirements and meet at least 12 of the EPA’s criteria.

Policies such as banning plastic bag usage and increasing the use of solar energy have helped Athens earn the award. 

The Ohio Economic Development Association awarded the City of Athens the 2024 Gold Level Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities Award. The award recognizes an organization or local government’s commitment to environmental oversight and excellence.

Notable benefits of the award include enhanced environmental assistance from the Ohio EPA, reduced time to obtain permit modifications and marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments.

To obtain the award, the city had to complete environmental, economic and social sustainability requirements and meet at least 12 of the EPA’s criteria.

Policies such as banning plastic bag usage and increasing the use of solar energy have helped Athens earn the award. 

President Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. For many Americans, this was a day of shared loss and national frustration. On Inauguration Day, climate change mitigation group Sunrise Movement Athens hosted a meeting to offer a healing space, organized by co-Presidents Maeve Fellerhoff and Celia Hawk. 

President Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. For many Americans, this was a day of shared loss and national frustration. On Inauguration Day, climate change mitigation group Sunrise Movement Athens hosted a meeting to offer a healing space, organized by co-Presidents Maeve Fellerhoff and Celia Hawk. 

Ohio University was recognized as Ohio’s top Green School by The Princeton Review for 2025. The University is ranked among the Top 50 Green Schools nationally. Recognized for its healthy quality of life and outstanding academic programs, the school is also dedicated to sustainability practices.

The Princeton Review chose colleges based on a 2023-2024 survey. The survey asked administrators at almost 600 institutions about their sustainability-related policies, practices and programs. Students attending these colleges were also surveyed about their “green campus experiences.”

“Data from the student survey included student assessments of the influence of sustainability issues on their academic and campus experiences; administrator and student support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts; and the visibility and impact of student environmental groups on the campus,” The Princeton Review wrote in a press release.

The sustainability efforts and practices at OU are possible with the Office of Sustainability ensuring “fulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being,” as well as with the help of students, organizations and clubs.

The Sierra Student Coalition is a group of passionate students who explore, enjoy and protect the planet while working with the Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Coalition was founded by students as an independent organization in 2005 and in the past has hosted events such as Divest Fest and coordinated with the annual Environmental Justice Summit.

The organization involves the local community through not only volunteer work but often partners with local organizations to raise environmental awareness on OU’s campus and in the Athens community.

Catherine Galla, a senior studying environmental studies and co-president of the Sierra Student Coalition, discussed the club’s efforts to educate others with activism.

“We plug different activist group meetings at Village Bakery or different things going on,” Galla said. “Maybe the Office of Sustainability has an event that we want to make sure everyone knows about and then we've also been doing more of a hands-on approach.”

She also mentioned the Coalition has done an invasive species removal with the Athens Conservancy as well as guided hikes that follow the Leave No Trace principles .

Galla also talked about the collaboration between the university and community members, touching on bigger organizations that have “really put a lot forward for justice and environmental justice.”

“Just definitely bridging the gap between what the community is needing and what the students are able to provide, specifically with those invasive species removals and information on the plastic bag ban, like the stuff that is present in the community, increasing that accessibility so that (students) can go out there and be a part of it,” Galla said.

Maddy Lucas, a junior studying environmental and plant biology and the vice president of the Sierra Student Coalition, said she uses the Coalition for community outreach and sees a difference in the community.

“I think, honestly, I’m not surprised (about the ranking) because Athens does so much stuff to try to further sustainability,” Lucas said.

Katherine Zonner, a freshman studying outdoor recreation and education and the Secretary for the Sierra Student Coalition, spoke about the importance of students having knowledge of their surroundings.

“I think that’s definitely important, as well as just keeping people informed of what’s going on, like our natural world on campus is definitely a really big thing,” Zonner said.

She also added students in recreation classes could realize the region’s great nature trails and understand that they need upkeep.

The sustainability efforts of student organizations and clubs like the OU Sierra Student Coalition are large contributors to The Princeton Review’s ranking OU received. Students, administrators and the local community have advocated for sustainability efforts and The Princeton Review recognized OU for just that. 

Ohio University was recognized as Ohio’s top Green School by The Princeton Review for 2025. The University is ranked among the Top 50 Green Schools nationally. Recognized for its healthy quality of life and outstanding academic programs, the school is also dedicated to sustainability practices. 

Ohio University has been recognized as the top “Green School” in the state of Ohio, and among the “Top 50 Green Schools” nationally, within the Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges.(opens in a new window)

As part of this list, OHIO is being recognized for its “superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education and a healthy quality of life for students on campus.”

Ohio University has been recognized as the top “Green School” in the state of Ohio, and among the “Top 50 Green Schools” nationally, within the Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges.(opens in a new window)

As part of this list, OHIO is being recognized for its “superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education and a healthy quality of life for students on campus.”