Composting is the natural process of decomposition of organic matter such as food scraps and yard waste to create nutrient rich material. This process benefits the environment by recycling nutrients and organic materials for plants, sequestering carbon in the soil (as humus), reducing the need for commercial fertilizers and soil amendments, and reducing the amount of waste that requires disposal.

Food waste collected on campus is delivered to local farms for land-based composting or to be processed in an anaerobic digester with other agricultural wastes.  Currently, Northeastern’s food waste is delivered to either the Hidden Acre Farms composting facility in Medway, MA or the Vanguard Renewables anaerobic digester at Crescent Farms located in Haverhill, MA.

In October 2021, a pilot program will be implemented at one building on Northeastern’s Burlington Campus, which will include collection of food waste from employee kitchen areas as well as from meetings and events that include food service.  We are looking into options for piloting additional collection programs on the Boston campus, including in at least one academic building and one residential building.