Burning Question: How can we support the start of composting in our own communities?

ASCP News
6 days ago
3 min read

Lauren, a student on the Auraria Campus, asked, “how can we support the start of composting programs in our own communities?” We’ll explore that question in the context of our campus, Denver, and Colorado as a whole, as well as the basics of composting and why it is important.

What is compost?

Compost is the aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic (carbon-based) materials by microorganisms (EPA). It can be used to build soil health and provide nutrients for plants. Compost is made up of food scraps, also referred to as greens, which contain nitrogen and leaves, also referred to as browns, which contain carbon (Denver Urban Gardens).

Why do we compost?

Composting is an important and sustainable process that helps keep materials out of the landfill and prevent food waste (EPA). It is not the first step in preventing food waste, however. It is part of the food recovery hierarchy, which begins with source reduction, or only buying what you need. The next step is feeding hungry people, then feeding animals, followed by industrial uses such as anaerobic digestion which produces renewable natural gas (RNG). If those options have been exhausted, the next step is composting. The last resort is the landfill (CDFA).

On campus composting

On campus, the ASCP has implemented a closed loop compost system. This means that most of the food on campus, that is either part of the preparation process or does not get eaten, gets composted on site. Our compost program can only process what is produced here on campus. People cannot bring food scraps from home. A new part of the program includes vermicomposting, which is the process of worms creating compost. The project was presented to SACAB and passed unanimously in April 2025. The ASCP expanded the vermicompost project because worms make a very valuable, high-nutrient form of compost. The final products from both systems are used for landscaping around campus (Auraria Sustainable Campus Program).

Composting at home

You can also make compost at home! Denver Urban Gardens has a great guide for creating your own, and even how to do vermicomposting.

If you aren’t able to make your own compost, there are many companies in the Denver area that you can send your food scraps to, which will be composted at an industrial compost facility. Some options include the Denver Compost Collective, Scraps, Wompost, and Compost Colorado. Almost all of these companies serve areas outside of Denver as well. If you live in a single-family home within Denver city limits, you should already have compost pickups available through the city for no additional cost (City and County of Denver).

Additionally, if you live in an apartment building or other multi-family home, make sure your landlord or property owner is aware of the update to Denver’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance called “Waste No More” which will be enforced starting on September 1, 2026 (City and County of Denver). Your building will be required to provide compost and recycling services to tenants on that date.

Written by: Peri Muellner

References

Auraria Sustainable Campus Program. Auraria Compost Outpost. https://www.sustainableauraria.org/_files/ugd/eb1896_6678b1b5b87f4204a6948668b5e15933.pdf

California Department of Food and Agriculture. Food Recovery Hierarchy. https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/foodrecovery/hierarchy.html#:~:text=The%20Food%20Recovery%20Hierarchy%20prioritizes,environment%2C%20society%20and%20the%20economy

City and County of Denver. Compost. https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Compost

City and County of Denver. Denver’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance. https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Climate-Action-Sustainability-and-Resiliency/Cutting-Denvers-Carbon-Pollution/Zero-Waste/Denver-Universal-Recycling-and-Composting-Ordinance

Compost Colorado. A Better Way to Compost. https://www.compost-colorado.com/

Denver Compost Collective. Compost Collection for Apartment Dwellers. https://www.denvercompostcollective.com/

Denver Urban Gardens. Basics of Composting. https://dug.org/gardening-resources/composting-basics/

Scraps. Composting with a Mission. https://scrapsmilehigh.com/

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Composting at Home.

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#:~:text=Additional%20Resources-,What%20is%20Composting%3F,tree%20trimmings%2C%20and%20food%20scraps.