Effective as of September 1, 2019
The following is a list of all the materials currently accepted in compost collection containers on the OSU Corvallis campus:
If it is not on the above list, it is not accepted in compost collection containers. This means the following common contaminants are NOT accepted: nearly all serving ware (cups, lids, straws, utensils, plates, bowls, etc.), waxed cardboard, plastic bags of any kind (includes compostable or biodegradable liners and bags like BPI liners), liquids, etc.
In certain circumstances such as in the back-of-house at food service locations and at special events, 100% pulped fiber plates and bowls may be collected for composting. Below is the policy for collecting these materials:
For details and to request organics, recycling, or trash collection at your campus event, please see our event recycling page.
The purpose of OSU’s organics collection program is to collect food waste and other acceptable organic material that will be composted into a product that is used again as a soil amendment. Over the past three years, there have been changes made to the types of non-food products accepted by Republic Services (OSU’s compost hauler and processor). The current policy reflects those changes and includes revisions that became effective April 22, 2019.
OSU and its various departments and auxiliary organizations pay Republic to haul and process this material. Our collective effectiveness to reduce non-acceptable materials in our compost collections is critical to the success and growth of organics materials management on our campus. Failure to do so may result in OSU being charged disposal fees for loads of materials that don’t meet Republic’s standards or discontinuing collection of organics.
Should you need guidance, educational support or other assistance to improve your compost collection, please email us.