University of Maryland, Baltimore's Composting Program

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Office of Sustainability launched a Community Composting Drop-Off pilot program in September 2023. The drop-off sites are located at the SMC Campus Center and Community Engagement Center and will provide UMB students, staff, and faculty, as well as any resident of Baltimore, with two weekly opportunities to compost their food scraps.UMB, Loyola University, and Johns Hopkins University community composting programs are being funded through a Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreement awarded to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative was developed in response to the comprehensive Baltimore Food Waste & Recovery Strategy, which addresses the growing problems of food waste, food insecurity, and food waste management in Baltimore City.The development of this composting pilot program aligns with UMB’s commitment to the core values of Well-Being and Sustainability. Composting is a natural process that gives organic matter back to the Earth. It addresses climate change by filtering stormwater pollutants, converting food nutrients into amendments used to build soil health, diverting food from landfills and incineration, and storing carbon in the soil. Composting in urban environments can be difficult, so it’s vital to increase compost drop-off opportunities for the UMB and Baltimore communities.#Composting #foodwaste