Student monitors and manages the school compost system

Read more about some of our current projects:

• Earth Tub Composting
• ELLC Composting Toilets
• Reuse Room

Earth Tub Food Scrap Composter and Composting Program

Typically 10% of municipal waste consists of food scraps,  here at Northland we've been working to change that. Since investing in our Earth Tub Northland College has saved tens of thousands of pounds of raw food waste.

Compost is collected from the cafeteria and from bins located in all dorm building kitchens and other campus buildings, including the campus center. The finished composted material is cycled into the campus garden and native landscaping efforts.

For more information on our compost system and how to use it, click here.

ELLC Composting Toilets

Unlike your typical "waste" Northlanders know that if their composting toilets smell they've been doing something wrong. The two Swedish-designed Clivus Multrum composting toilets located in apartments in the ELLC are quite the conversation starters. Managed by student workers, the toilets require a "balanced diet" in order to process properly so the waste can be converted into a safe and useful product used to benefit various soils around campus. The composting toilets are just a start at making a dent in the average American's  annual use of 9,000 gallons of water for toilet flushing.

Reuse Room

The Reuse Center is a place where students, faculty and staff can bring unwanted but reusable objects. It’s mission is to provide a way for Northland students, faculty and staff to reduce their waste and consumption by cycling objects over and over in the community.

The Reuse Center, is located in Mead room #234 and is run by Environmental Council members and volunteers.

For more information on the Reuse Center and how to donate, click here.

Contact Information

Environmental Council

Additional Resources:

Northland College's Compost System.
Northland College's Reuse Room.