A Look into Sustainability at Alfred State

College students can take steps to help improve the environment and be conscientious of their surroundings.  One of the most efficient ways to help the environment is to compost. Compost is taking food waste and turning it into “green waste” which will break down into humus in a few weeks or months.  After the breakdown of the food waste it can be applied to gardens to give nutrients to the soil to enrich growth through a natural process.  It is simple to use and saves energy as well.  Ecology is a responsibility that every citizen of the world should be concerned. Some colleges offer compost bins in the dining areas instead of garbage cans. Being eco-conscious is a frame of mind that benefits everyone. Alfred State offers vegetarian options to students. I like the concept of replacing the garbage cans in the dining areas on campus with compost bins. It is a huge waste considering the amount of food that is thrown away on a daily basis. Alfred State does offer recycle bins for cans, bottles, and papers all around campus and in the dorms. Encouragement to the student body to be eco-friendly could be reinforced in the dining areas and creating an additional method to recycle our wastes.  Currently some of the paper from campus is recycled and is used as bedding at the farm. The Alfred Community Garden already has a compost pile available where the college could take the compost and deposit it daily. A compost bin costs an average of $40.00 each and if they were placed in approximately 10 places around campus the cost would be $400.00. A small financial investment today would go a long way for the future of our earth. So think about joining me in recycling today for a better tomorrow.