Hosting an in-office composting program can be done easily with a few thoughts before getting started. We covered offices with limited space in a previous article, but here it’s assumed that your campus might be a little larger with some available space and resources.
Benefits of composting at the office
- Taking this type of action can help with building a brand to recognition as an eco-friendly company.
- Increases employee engagement within a company. This can lead to employee retention and satisfaction and increased productivity.
- Carbon footprints can be reduced by keeping food waste out of the landfill.
How do I get started composting?
Make a plan: In this stage, the executive team or a person identified to manage the project can be chosen. This person may or may not be the person who heads the implementation portion of the project. Teams can work together or with the identified person on things like 1. how the compost will be collected, 2. who will do it and 3. what happens to the compost at the end or how it will be used.
Consider costs: The monetary cost is typically low for the collection of compost for small offices. Compost tumblers start out at a cost of just over $100 with the cost of a bin to collect kitchen food scraps a fairly low-cost investment with estimates up to $50 for a container, depending on how elaborate a program is built. Costs also depend on the size of your team or office.
Team involvement: The planning can take a little time, but once the program is installed, and designated individuals are putting things together, the maintenance of the system isn’t very high. The operation stage involves making sure employees know their role. For example, if employees are told to put their identified waste into a bin, make sure it’s clearly stated and identified what those items are. We made a larger list of items to keep out of these compost bins in the kitchen, including meat products or dairy products, such as milk and cheese.
In addition to signage to help employees remember what goes in these bins, internal communications and mentioning it in meetings and/or emails are a good way to keep employees informed and engaged in the project. Deploying these types of programs can help with employee engagement, which can lead to higher employee satisfaction and retention. Deploying goal setting within the program can also assist with engagement and team building.
Other considerations: If a company decides that an office collection system is appropriate and that they have the space and are willing to finish the compost to completion, a tumbler can be considered with the costs already covered here. This should all be covered in the planning stage where decisions of who will handle the tumbler should be decided. The tumbler must be turned periodically to keep oxygen flowing, and water will need to be added to increase moisture. A landscape company, or groundskeeper, is a good target for this activity.
Composting to completion isn’t a requirement. Companies can work with employees that have home gardens, community gardens or talk with their waste providers. Additionally, there are providers who will take food waste (mainly fruit and vegetable waste) for a fee.