To: Ken Dehkes, Hamline University Director of Facilities Operations and Horticulture Services

From: Joseph Yang

Date: March 16, 2015
Subject: Proposal to study the feasibility of creating compost bins around campus
Purpose
This proposal recommends that I be allowed to perform a feasibility study on the benefits of
having compost bins around Hamline Universitys campus. I will be writing a report with my
recommendations on whether Hamline University should have compost bins.
Summary
In Minnesota alone, 5.8 million tons of garbage are produced (MPCA, 2013). But in this
proposal, I plan focus on educational institutions such as Hamline University and the waste we
produced. In my recommendations, I will compare Hamline to Macalester and the overall
consumption of biodegradable materials.
Introduction
Hamline University does not currently have compost bins around campus for students to put
biodegradable materials in. There is a waste management issue with garbage in the United States
especially from institutions. Composting can be used as a possible solution to explore in
reducing waste.
According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) research in 2013, 5.8 million
tons of Mixed Municpal Solid Waste (MMSW) or garbage was produced in Minnesota (MPCA,
2013). MPCA has narrowed down the waste disposal to three areas: landfilling, resource
recovery facilities and illegal on-site disposal (MPCA, 2013). Composting would fall under the
resource recovery facilties.
An issue of waste management from an institutional standpoint is the use of landfills as the
means to waste disposal. In focus to universities as institutions, Macalester University has
researched that 77% of its garbage could be recycled or composted (Macalester, 2014). In
relation, Macalester has a similar amount of undergraduate students as Hamline University
comparing numbers of 2,073 students to 2,211 students (Macalester, 2014). Therefore, Hamline
University may indeed share similar results in recyclable and biodegradable garbage.
In the sphere of the students, Macalester composts items such as non-recyclable
paper products, food scraps, and coffee grounds which are eventually sent to a commercial
composting site (Macalester, 2014). All of these items also pertain to the students at Hamline
University and their consumption and disposal of these goods. With recycling already being a
highly utilized system at Hamline, composting can also be highly utilized as well.
Proposed Procedure
In this section, I will share my current completed research and my proposed research I plan to
continue. My criteria will evaluate my findings in my research.
Completed Research: Currently, these are the research findings I have so far.

1.
2.
3.
4.

I have researched information on Minnesotas accumulation of waste by quantities.

I have researched methods compost can used in landscaping.
I have researched university institutions that utilize compost programs.
I have researched long-run financial benefits for composting to the environment.

Proposed Research: Below are the research areas I plan to delve into.
1. I plan to research financial benefits to composting.
2. I plan to research how recycling has saved cost.
3. I plan to research how the implementation of recycling can coincide to composting.
4. I plan to further research long run environment benefits.
Criteria: Below are some questionnaires I plan to use into supporting my research.
1. Have you been informed about the issue of waste management?
2. How do you see composting be utilized in food waste?
3. Do you routinely recycle to reduce waste in your life?
Qualifications and Experience
I am a dedicated student with about a 3.7 GPA. In several courses throughout my college
experience, I have done research papers in social sciences to religious text. And with this
proposal, I plan to continue expanding my horizons with how to do research.
References
Macalester University. (2014). Composting. Retrieved from
http://www.macalester.edu/sustainability/projects/composting/
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2013). The SCORE Report. Retrieved from
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/data/score/recycling-in-minnesota-the-score-report.html
University of Missouri. (2010). Making and Using Compost. Retrieved from
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6956