Composting

Here’s how it works:
Organic materials – mostly food and some of its packaging – decompose naturally. This creates a nutrient-rich mixture known as compost. And compost is a plant’s best friend. This stuff:

• Helps soil retain moisture
• Provides minerals and nutrients for plants
• Reduces the need for fertilizers
• Doesn’t wind up wasted in landfills

So think compost before throwing away the following:

• All food—fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, cheese, grains
• Coffee grounds & paper filters
• Tea bags (no staples)
• Non-waxy paper plates and cups
• Pizza boxes
• Paper napkins

Printable sign - What can a Rambler compost?

Loyola’s composting initiative: a brief history

Loyola started composting food scraps from Simpson Dining Hall in 2012. By the end of the year, the efforts had diverted 62 tons of food scraps from landfills. The program eventually expanded to all dining halls on the Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses, making it easy for the Loyola community to turn their discarded food scraps into compost that helps build healthy soil. 

Through dining halls, landscaping, special events, the compost bucket programs and more, Ramblers divert around 300 tons of organic waste from the Water Tower and Lake Shore Campuses from the landfill annually. This is then recycled into healthy soil amendment (compost) to be added to local farms and gardens.

The Facilities Department and partners work together to promote change through action. Individuals and departments can take action by composting their food waste and used paper towels generated while on campus.

How you can get involved

Compost Bucket Program

Sign up for the Compost Bucket Program! For interested faculty, staff, and for students living on or near the Lake Shore or Water Tower Campus, please complete an agreement form at the link below and reach out to sustainability@luc.edu with any questions. You will receive a one-gallon compost bucket and a weekly drop-off schedule. Then you can begin composting and join others across the University who are taking action and creating change. Note: The Compost Bucket Program is only available during the academic year. If you are interested in composting but not eligible for our program, we encourage you to consider the "Residential pick-up providers" listed by the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition including Loyola alum, Waste Not Compost.

Please note, the bucket program is only available at the Water Tower and Lake Shore Campuses. This program is intended for students living on- or off-campus and for employees' on-campus organic waste.  In order to participate you must have a completed application accepted and have participated in an in-person or recorded training. Compost Bucket Program Application Form - log into SharePoint with your UVID to submit

For the spring 2025 semester, drop-offs will take place at the following time & location starting January 13, 2025: 

• Lake Shore Campus (Main Parking Structure by Welcome Center), Mondays 11:00am to 1:00pm and Wednesdays 3:00pm to 5:00pm
• Water Tower Campus (Baumhart lobby), Wednesdays, 11:00am to 1:00pm 

Time and location may change each semester.

Paper Towel Composting

Sign up for Paper Towel Composting! Shared office or residential floor restrooms are a great opportunity to collect paper towels for composting. Sign up to lead a program on your floor and learn more by visiting the link below. 

• Paper Towel Composting Application Form - log into SharePoint with your UVID to submit

Composting at Events 

In addition to the dining halls and Engrained Café, additional compost collection can be accomplished at campus events, large and small. Contact the Campus Sustainability team to learn how you and your campus group can stage a Green Event.

More information on Composting

Compost Contamination

Knowing how to compost correctly is essential before actually participating. Putting non-compostable items into a compost bin is called contamination and ruins the entire compost pile, which must then be sent to a landfill.

• The composting service Loyola uses will not accept a compost pile that has more than 10% contamination.
• Contamination isn’t just about foreign items that won’t break down in the soil. When non-compostable items like plastic bags get put into the compost bin, they can get stuck in the compost facility’s machinery, costing them time and money.

Thank you for doing your part to keep organic waste out of landfills! 

Other ways to Compost in Chicago

Not a Loyola student or employee but looking to divert your food scraps from landfills? Chicago has lots of opportunities to compost! 

• City of Chicago FREE Food Scrap Drop Off Program
• List of residential and commercial compost pickup services maintained by the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition