Bronco Buckets

Please be advised that we have suspended our Bronco Bucket program.

The Office for Sustainability (OfS) is beginning the second phase of a student-run composting project on Western Michigan University’s main campus. In the fall of 2019, the OfS will provide containers to be placed in five departments/units that have expressed interest in composting food scraps, otherwise known as feedstock. These containers will be placed in accessible locations by the departments/units to collect feedstock. Over time and with a bit of labor, the feedstock can be composted and turned into a soil amendment. 

Items to be collected as feedstock sources include fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, meats, cheeses, and bread. The process that we use allows us to compost items you might not be able to with home systems. 

OfS student researchers will provide educational materials to participants and will collect containers weekly. Collected feedstock will be taken to the OfS, Community Garden, and/or Gibbs House via bicycle trailer and electric van where varying composting methods will be used to turn the feedstock into compost. Composting methods will include vermicomposting, static pile composting, and sheet composting. 

Once the food waste has been turned into compost, this nutrient dense material will given away, used by the OfS, or turned over to Landscape Services and added back to the soil on Western’s campus. 

If you are interested in partnering with us, or would like more information, please contact @email.