UGA Campus Compost Program

The University of Georgia Campus Compost program is a student-run, trike-powered program offering on-demand food scrap collection services at participating locations on campus. Our interns distribute and provide weekly service to compost collection bins at over 100 sites on campus. We also provide educational materials, event composting support, and tabling upon request. This site offers more information about our services and how to get involved with composting on and off campus.

Interested in a bin for your department? Fill out this  Google Form  or email us at compost@uga.edu. Our interns are also available for tabling, event composting, collaboration opportunities interviews, or any other compost questions!

The following maps display all compost bin locations in both ArcGIS and Google Maps. For mobile users, the Google Maps can be viewed in a web browser or the Google Maps app. Since many of our bins are located within faculty breakrooms and other limited-access locations, the final map displays on-campus compost sites accessible to all faculty and students. This map also includes information about off-campus Athens-Clarke County deposit locations.

Wondering whether your department has a compost bin? The following map displays every bin location currently serviced by our interns. Click on the point to see its location within each building.

The following map displays all compost drop-off sites on campus and in the Athens area accessible to students, faculty, and staff. This includes Campus Compost drop-off sites at locations serviced by our programs and food scraps collection sites offered by Athens-Clarke County.

We consider bin requests on a rolling basis throughout the semester. The first step is identifying an enthusiastic and motivated individual to serve as the departmental contact. If you are interested in serving as the departmental contact for your building/location, the following information is needed to determine our ability to add your location to our routes:

• Number of bins/sizes requested: We currently have bins available in small (1 foot/1 gal.) and large (3 foot/10 gal.) sizes. Note that these are not suitable for commercial levels of waste.
• Location of building: Please include detailed instructions if building is hard to find. We service mainly within .25 miles of the main campus area.
• In-building location: Please include room numbers and other descriptive cues for interns. Typically, we suggest bins be located in areas like kitchens or breakrooms where food scrap diversion would be highest. These locations also need to be accessible for a student intern to collect the compost each week.

If you are interested in serving as a composting contact for your location, you can begin this process by filling out this  Google Form  and sending an email to compost@uga.edu. Stops are typically added within two weeks of requesting if the location falls within our service area.

For buildings located outside of our service area, while we are not able to collect compost at your location through our trike-powered program, we are able to provide you with bins, compostable bags, and information for disposal at Athens-Clarke County Food Scrap Drop-off Centers. Please fill out the above Google Form and indicate if you are interested in this service.

All of our bins are accompanied by informational signs like these to help prevent bin misuse. The intern will fill them in with their name and day of pick-up when the bin is delivered.

Our program started as an Office of Sustainability  Sustainability Grant  in 2014, beginning with student volunteers collecting compost bins on-campus through the use of UGA Facilities Management vans and trucks. In 2017, the program transitioned to the use of makeshift collection carts affixed to electric bikes. In 2019, the Office of Sustainability was able to procure the two electric-powered Radburro tricycles that have been in use ever since. Currently, all of our food scraps and compostable material are picked up by Athens-Clarke County service workers and delivered to the ACC landfill, where they are processed and returned to the community as compost.

As of spring 2025, we serve 70 locations on campus and 117 bin sites. In the year of fall 2022 to spring 2023, these efforts resulted in approximately 9,400 pounds of food/compostable waste diversion. As our program expands every semester, this quantity continues to increase.

I think I want to compost. But what exactly does that mean? Composting is a process in which food scraps and biomatter are recycled into nutrient-rich fertilizer for soil and plants through intentional management and aeration. For our program, the word "compost" refers to the food scrap material, compostable wares, and paper towels collected in our bins. Choosing to compost these items rather than trash them allows you to make a meaningful contribution towards landfill waste diversion and directly give back to your natural environment. What kinds of materials do you accept? The following flier outlines the materials accepted by our program. While we do not accept large items, meats, or dairy, these materials can be composted through the Athens-Clarke County Food Scraps Drop-off Program. In addition to the materials listed on our sign, we also accept paper towels and wares listed as commercially compostable (compostable plastics, cutlery, etc.)

Won't it smell? What about bugs? Due to our regular weekly pick-up cycle, bins are unlikely to smell or attract bags unless items that are not allowed are placed in the compost bins. The bins also feature a latched locking mechanism to contain smells and keep out bugs. However, if you notice a bad odor or bug presence near your bin, please reach out to compost@uga.edu.

Where does the compost collected by the Campus Compost program go? The compost collected through Campus Compost is picked up by Athens-Clarke County for use at the  UGArden , campus landscaping projects, and other local needs. This process is outlined below.

How do I get more involved with composting/sustainability at UGA?

First off, help spread the word! While the Campus Compost program has been in existence for for almost a decade, most people on campus are still unaware of our services. On-campus student residents can find composting bins at almost every residence hall, while off-campus residents can make use of our publicly accessible bins. Faculty, staff, and graduate students can serve as departmental contacts to acquire a bin for their building/department.

You can also follow our Instagram (@ugacompost) for updates on program expansion and potential volunteer opportunities. If you're interested in becoming a part of the Campus Compost team,  UGA Office of Sustainability Internship applications  open every fall and spring. There are also numerous  volunteer opportunities  available on and off-campus depending on your skills and interests.

I live/am moving off campus. How can I start composting at home? The Environmental Protection Agency has a great resource  here  discussing at-home composting options. For homes with limited garden areas/no outdoor access, compost can be stored in compost bins or kept in the freezer to prevent smells and bugs. Athens Clarke-County maintains a  list of publicly accessible food scrap drop off locations , many of which are available 24/7.

Where can I learn more about sustainability at UGA/Athens?

•  Athens-Clarke County Food Scrap Drop-off Program 
•  UGA Office of Sustainability 
•  UGA Dining Services Compost Program 
• Athens-Clarke County Commercial Composting

Our interns trek through rain, bugs, and downtown traffic to collect the compost each week. Give them a wave if you see them at work around campus.

Supervisor: Ella Filston Past Interns: Susanna Berg*, Oliver Nemeth, Maddie Perry, Kali Lyons, Sahana Parker*, Sarah Dean, Sam Nestor, Christian Aldama, Jill Blackmon*, Abbie Dillon, Jackie Groarke, Melissa Gurevitch*, Zach Keung, Tommy Lehner*, Mariah Manoylov, Matthew Molini, Marielle Quinn, Andrew Schoppenhorst*, Perry Siniard*, Truxton Sprott, Zach Szemborski, Spencer Tomlinson, Mallory Warren, Max Weyrick*, Maddie Perry, Oliver Nemeth (*Team Lead)