It is important to be as environmentally cautious as possible in today’s world. Recently, Glenview has taken some steps to become more environmentally friendly.

For instance, last summer they implemented a green roof, which will help reduce energy use, as well as rain run off. This is great, and I’m glad that our campus is working on becoming more green.

I had read in the last Exponent that their newest concern is wasted food products in Platters. An idea was brought up to get rid of the trays to prevent students from taking too much food.

This idea is good, as long as employees don’t mind picking up broken plates and mopping up spilled drinks. I believe a better solution to this problem would be to compost the leftover food material.

Platters could implement a way to separate food products from non-biodegradable products and transport the wasted food to a local compost pile. Microorganisms in the compost pile would decompose the food until it became humus. Food waste that is in a landfill takes much longer to decompose, if it decomposes at all. Because of this, composting reduces harmful gas emissions in landfills.

At the Pioneer Greenhouse, there is a small compost bin containing mostly leftover plant material. The humus from this bin is used to supplement the gardens that surround the building.

Who knows, maybe Platters could use the humus to add nutrients to the newly established green roof. Composting, as well as trying to reduce the amount of wasted food, would really benefit the environment, and it should definitely be taken into consideration.

Joanna Wassink
Ornamental Horticulture