Food Waste Composting

Monday - Thursday 

7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday 

7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

It's as easy as 1-2-3! 

1. Grab a personal compost bin - you can use any container with a lid! Sustain Coastal offers free personal compost bins upon request. Email sustain@coastal.edu to secure yours.
2. Separate food scraps and food waste from your regular trash (see below for list of accepted items). 
   • • Fruits and vegetables
     • Coffee grounds
     • Bread, bakery items, pasta and grain
     • Cooked meats and fish, bones, and shells
     • Food-soiled paper (coffee filters, paper bags, paper towels, napkins, waxed cardboard paper)
     • Processed foods (pizza, cereal, chips, crackers, cookies, cakes, plate scrapings)
     • Compostable food waste bags (provided on site)
3. Empty your container at least once per week at the Food Waste Drop-Off at CCU, located at 3803 Elvington Loop. Be sure to grab a complimentary compostable bag liner to keep your container clean!

Waste diversion is foundational to sustainability at CCU, and is a core program of Sustain Coastal. Additionally, the Horry County landfill is expected to reach capacity within the next 30 years and 40% of waste in SC landfills is food waste. By keeping food out of our landfill, we can reduce our environmental impact and extend the life of our landfill in Horry County. 

In line with S.C. DHEC’s and also the U.S. EPA’s recycling and waste reduction goals, CCU has identified a goal of diverting 50% of waste generated on campus by 2030.  Each day, Sustain Coastal staff collect recycling from over 323 indoor recycling stations located within 42 of the academic, administrative and athletic buildings across campus, and Grounds staff collect back of house composting from all of the on-campus dining facilities.  

In the past year alone CCU composted 254,000 pounds of food waste from the dining halls, that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.

Collecting food waste and food scraps is easy! You may choose to use any container with a lid however, Sustain Coastal offers free personal compost bins upon request. Email sustain@coastal.edu to secure yours.

These personal compost bins hook onto existing teal recycling bins that are also offered for free. To keep your personal compost bin clean, be sure to utilize the complimentary compostable bag liners available at the Food Waste Drop-Off (3803 Elvington Loop).

To receive a free teal recycling bin, students can stop by the Chant 411 desk anytime the Student Union is open. Faculty and staff can email sustain@coastal.edu for a free Office Mini-bin recycling system. For more information about the Office Mini-bin Program, click here. 

• 2015-2016: 95.19 tons
• 2016-2017: 61.81 tons
• 2017-2018: 102.54 tons
• 2018-2019: 83.85 tons
• 2019-2020: 58.20 tons 
• 2020-2021: 40.97 tons
• 2021-2022: 77.17 tons
• 2022-2023: Coming Soon!       

The notion of farm to table eating has been around for quite a while, but Coastal Carolina University takes the effort one step farther. Dining halls at the University attempt to source food from as close to CCU as possible, with a network of farms across the Carolinas that supply produce and more. 

To learn more about CCU Food Crew's Sustainability Initiatives, click here.