New compost prices, display

If you caught us at the Lansing Home & Garden Show last weekend, you've already seen our impressive new Reused and Recycled expo booth! Part of that included an expanded display for compost, and we've updated our prices as well:

Uncured compost is produced from livestock manure and bedding from MSU Farms. It is hot composted for 4-6 weeks and, although it is stable, it is not cured or screened.

Farmers typically purchase uncured compost in bulk quantities and apply it to their fields as a soil amendment and fertilizer supplement.

20 Yard lot: Dutch auction starts at $8/cu.yd.

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Cured compost is the same material as our uncured compost, but it has been screened and cured for an additional 6-12 months. It has high calcium, potash, potassium and nitrogen contents.

Home lawns and gardens are ideal places to use cured compost. It can be used as a lawn topdressing, garden soil amendment, or mulch additive for potting mix.

1/2 Yard: $20
1 Yard: $30
2 Yard bag: $75

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Compost pellets are made from cured compost that is screened, dried and compressed into pellets.

Easier to store and more convenient to apply in small amounts, compost pellets can be used as an occasional lawn topdressing, garden soil amendment, or mulch additive for potting mix.

7 lbs. jug: $12.50
20 lbs. bag: $20

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Vermicompost is made at the MSU Student Organic Farm by feeding fruit and vegetable scraps, paper and leaves to a special variety of worms. The result contains many nutrients, minerals, microrutrients, and beneficial bacteria for healthy plants,

To help plants resist disease and increase growth, vermicompost can be used as a potting soil amendment, applied to surface soil, or extracted with water as a compost tea.

2 lbs. bag: $4

E-cycleMania

This year’s RecycleMania competition includes a month long collection of electronics, similar to last year. There is a slight change, however, as we are able to collect both university-owned and personal e-waste from the community.

MSU students, faculty and staff can drop off electronic waste March 4-8 at the Surplus Store from 7:00am -3:30pm. Unloading assistance provided at the overhead door on the north side of the building facing the Recycling Drop Off Center.

Buildings on campus can host their own electronic collection between March 4-29. Email recycle@msu.edu for more information. Currently scheduled collections include:

Physical Plant, March 1-22

Berkey Hall, March 14-15 and 21-22

Angell Hall, March 18-23

Olds Hall, March 20-21

Waste Awareness Week

We removed or downsized 109 trash cans and added or moved recycling containers at the MSU Main Library from February 10-16.

We tracked data through the two weeks prior to Waste Awareness Week to establish control averages.

Here is what we found:

Waste was reduced by 350 lbs
Recycling was increased by 100 lbs
Landfill diversion rate increased by 3.25%