Millersville using Composting to “go green”

In the hopes of improving public awareness of the University’s “going green” movement, Millersville’s Dining and Conference Services has partnered with Oregon Dairy Organics and Edie Waste Systems to develop an organic-waste, recycling program to benefit the University and our environment.

What happens at Millersville is the trash that is picked up goes to the Lancaster Transfer Station and eventually to the landfill. The organic waste that is picked up, which will eventually become compost, is picked up by Edie Waste Systems and delivered to Oregon Dairy Organics to be turned into compost.

Oregon Dairy Organics is a composting project that benefits local townships, citizens, farmers and water quality by producing high-quality compost for athletic fields, parks, turf operations and more.

This composting project includes Gordinier Dining Hall and has hopes to soon include all of the University dining services at Millersville. Dining services hopes to recycle more than 70 percent of the current organic waste into useful organic compost, resulting in more than 30 tons of waste being recycled per year to keep out of landfills. Before the University started the composting system, all trash went to the landfill; now only about 10 percent of the trash goes to the landfill.

Currently, the University is charged $78 per ton of trash. These costs are expected to rise over the next several years with increases in fuel costs and landfill charges. By recycling, costs will reduce to $40 a ton, saving money for the University.

“I am really excited because it is something the University can do to help the environment,” said Gerry Shehan, associate director of student dining. “We hope to educate our students about all of our sustainability efforts in University Dining and at the University.”

Eventually the state will most likely force all institutions to compost material. Until that time, Millersville University will be one of a very select group of universities in the country that has a composting program.