- SUSTAINABILITY IN FOCUS -

Make the most of your kit: Food Fair & Composting January 20th
By Christian Rusby, Special to the Polaris
... The Sustainability Club and the Classified Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) are partnering on a mini food awareness event called the Sustainable Food Fair on January 20th, 2010. It will be held in the cafeteria from 11 am to 1 pm and include information tables and short presentations on environmental conscience growing and preparation of food and disposal of food waste. Local experts including Seattle Tilth, Chaco Canyon restaurant and Cedar Grove Composting among several others are expected to attend.
... The Sustainable Food Fair aims to provide information related to campus initiatives including sourcing local food and increasing composting of food waste. Sourcing local food reduces the amount of pollution and energy required to transport food long distances in addition to supporting local farmers. On the other end of the spectrum, when food waste is disposed of, composting it into useful fertilizer is a process that will keep this valuable resource out of the landfill. A recent waste audit of the cafeteria showed that 77% of material thrown in the garbage could have been composted. The Sustainable Food Fair will have composting available to cafeteria users for the first time to help increase the amount of food waste that is composted on campus.
... Along with the new composting program will be new signage and educational materials to help cafeteria customers know what items can go in the compost as well as the recycling and garbage. The Sustainable Food Fair and the introduction of compost in the cafeteria and is part of a larger program of education to reduce our environmental footprint at North. Keep an eye out for more information on the Sustainable Food Fair and composting in the beginning of Winter quarter.
... What other ways can you think of to reduce waste on campus? For more information contact Christian Rusby, North’s Sustainability Coordinator at crusby@sccd.ctc.edu.