Students recommend education, composting dashboard in winning Sustainable Solutions Challenge pitch

After pitches from 18 teams comprised of students across various disciplines at University of Richmond, the students who suggested a combination of education, accountability, and incentives to improve composting efforts on campus won over the judges to earn first prize in the 2021 Sustainable Solutions Challenge.

“We came up with our solution by thinking about all the problems that were at hand,” said Ellie Ronan, ’21. “The most prominent problem was confusion on how to compost amongst students and other campus stakeholders. We wanted our solution to be as easy as possible in order to change consumer behavior as well as educate and incentivize them.”

The 2021 Sustainable Solutions Challenge focused on the increased quantities of single-use food packaging going to landfills in response to new safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dining Services and the Office for Sustainability are in the process of implementing a campus-wide composting strategy, including compostable food packaging, across campus retail locations. The 2021 Sustainable Solutions Challenge will complement this composting initiative. It provided teams with an opportunity to design a solution aimed at increasing participation in the proper disposal of compostable packaging.

The students proposed an innovative way to change consumer behavior around composting in order to have a more sustainable campus.

“Our solution contained four parts which were education, consistency, monitoring change, and implementing an incentive,” Ronan said. “The education component would consist of a student-created video shown during orientation, faculty and staff meetings, and looping it on the TVs at participating dining locations.”

Ronan, along with her team members Ava Cummings, Janie Hearden, and Erin Watton, ’21, then proposed color coordinating the materials and containers with specific disposal locations on campus to eliminate waste and encourage composting. Lastly, if students compost a certain amount of waste, they would earn a wellness day.

The group conducted primary research surveying 60 students to gain an understanding of composting on campus.

Scott Lincoln, manager of custodial and environmental services, served as a panel member in the challenge forum, and was thrilled to see students participating in such an important initiative.

“It was very encouraging to see the amount of participation in the challenge,” Lincoln said. “I am committed to partnering with this group to assist them with developing next steps and implementing effective solutions.”

“These competitions are important because it gives students the opportunities to make a positive impact on the campus community,” Watton said. “As a senior, I am proud that part of my legacy at University of Richmond will be making the campus a more sustainable place.”

For more information on the Sustainable Solutions Challenge and the composting efforts on campus, click here.