University of Waterloo Campus Compost

🌱 And the winner of our Sticker Design Contest is.. 🥁

🪱 A huge congratulations to Chloe (.orbeez) for creating this beautiful compost inspired sticker design! ♻️

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Sticker Design Contest! ✨

We loved seeing all the creative ways our campus community brought sustainability to life 💚

Stay tuned for updates on when our stickers will be available around campus in the Fall term! 🌿

Application deadline extended! Join the UWCC Fall ‘26 Exec team using the form in our bio~ 🐄🐄🍀🌱

That’s a wrap on Spring 2026 events! 💚

This term was full of opportunities to learn, get involved, and connect with our community:

Compost Cow Clean-Up: Worked together to clean up our campus spaces and make use of ready-to-use compost to support our growing spaces 🌱

End of Term Social: Celebrated the end of the term with homemade rhubarb ice cream made with rhubarb harvested straight from the garden! 🍦

From getting our hands in the soil to sharing good food and good company, we’re so grateful for everyone who helped make Spring 2026 such a fun and memorable term 🌿

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the term! We loved seeing our community come together to learn, connect, and celebrate sustainability 💚

Here’s to a great Spring 2026! Stay tuned for our End of Term Wrapped post 🌱

‼️ The long awaited update from last week's r/compost discussion! 🌱

POV: You discover an animal has made a home in your compost pile 🐿️🪺

Don't worry! You don't have to stop composting. Just give your tiny neighbours some space until they're ready to move on 💚

🌿 Pause that pile: Leave the occupied compost alone. Don't turn it, harvest from it, or add scraps near the nest. If you can, use another bin or save your scraps for later

🙅 Leave the nest alone: Don't move the nest, eggs, or babies. Even if you don't see a parent, they're often nearby watching or gathering food

☎️ Call a wildlife rehabilitator if an animal is injured or in immediate danger. Avoid trying to feed or care for it yourself

🍂 Help prevent future move ins: Once the nest is no longer active, bury food scraps under a thick layer of dry leaves, cardboard, wood chips, or finished compost. Skip meat and dairy in open backyard piles, and consider using a secure, enclosed bin

Sometimes compost ends up supporting more than just microorganisms, and the kindest thing we can do is let our unexpected guests finish their stay 🌎💚

💬 Who's the cutest compost visitor you've ever spotted?

✨ The Fall 2026 term is almost here, and UW Campus Compost is still recruiting new executives! 📣

We've put together a breakdown of each position to help you learn more about the responsibilities, expectations, and opportunities each role offers 💚

Whether you're interested in co-manager, operations, research, design, or marketing, there's a place for you on our team! ♻️

Joining UWCC is a great way to develop leadership skills, gain hands on experience with campus sustainability initiatives, and connect with a community of students passionate about creating a greener campus 🌿

Ready to apply?

👉 Click the link in our bio to submit your application!
⏰ Applications close Saturday, August 15

We can't wait to meet our future exec team
Good luck to everyone applying! 🍀

🌿 Welcome back to Earth & Easel! 🎨

This week, we're featuring Wheatfield – The Living Pyramid (2015) by Agnes Denes 🌾

Installed on the waterfront in Long Island, New York, this striking eco-artwork transformed poor-quality mined soil into a thriving, living sculpture 🌱

Built in the shape of a curving pyramid, it was planted with grasses and wildflowers by members of the public, creating a work that continues to renew itself over time 🌼

As Agnes Denes explained, "While the pyramids are based on mathematics and thus achieve a kind of perfection, they contain all the imperfections they are dealing with or are representing and visualizing"

Much like her earlier work, Tree Mountain, The Living Pyramid*symbolizes nature's ability to reclaim damaged landscapes ♻️

The plants help prevent erosion while transforming the structure into a lasting reminder of environmental restoration, community participation, and the resilience of the natural world 💚

👉 Swipe to learn more about the artwork, the artist, and how creative projects like this can inspire new ways of caring for our environment!

🔗 Learn more about the project: https://socratessculpturepark.org/exhibition/pyramid/

💚 Stay tuned for next week's Earth & Easel feature!

🌱 Sustainable Feed Friday is back! ♻️

POV: You lift the lid on your compos and realize someone else moved in first! 🐿️

Finding an animal nesting in your compost pile can be surprising, but the best thing you can do is give them some space 💚

Instead of disturbing your unexpected guests:

🌿 Pause composting in that pile! Stop turning it, harvesting compost, or adding materials near the nest
🥕 Keep composting elsewhere! Use another bin or collect your food scraps until the nest is no longer active
🙅 Leave the nest, eggs, and babies where they are! Even if you don't see a parent, they may be nearby gathering food
☎️ Contact a local wildlife rehabilitator if an animal appears injured or is in immediate danger! Avoid trying to feed or care for it yourself.
🍂 Help prevent future move ins by burying fresh food scraps under a thick layer of dry leaves, cardboard, wood chips, or finished compost! Skip meat and dairy in open backyard piles, and consider using a secure enclosed bin

Sometimes your compost supports more than just microorganisms, and the kindest solution is to let your temporary tenants finish their stay 🌿✨

💬 Have you ever found an animal living in your compost?

Stories for Sustainability 🌱

Today, we're featuring Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson 📚

Ever wondered if living with less waste could actually make life simpler? 🤔

This practical guide shares how Bea Johnson and her family dramatically reduced their household waste by adopting small, intentional changes in their everyday routines

From shopping and cooking to cleaning, travel, and celebrations, the book offers realistic tips for creating a lower waste lifestyle ♻️

At the heart of the book are the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot, reminding us that sustainability starts long before something reaches the recycling bin 🌍

Whether you're just beginning your sustainability journey or looking for simple ways to reduce waste at home, this inspiring, beginner friendly read is full of practical ideas you can start using today 💚

👉 Swipe to discover the 5 Rs of Zero Waste and simple ways to reduce your environmental footprint!

🔗 Read more: https://zerowastehome.com/book

⏰ Deadline Extended! 🎨🌱

Good news! We've extended the deadline for the UW Campus Compost Sticker Design Contest to Monday, August 3 at 11:59 PM.

If you've been thinking about entering, now's your chance! Whether you're a designer, illustrator, or someone who just loves to doodle, we'd love to see your ideas

🏆 The winning design will receive a $10 gift card or a donation of your choosing

➡️ Swipe for contest details, inspiration, and submission instructions. The submission form is linked in our bio!

Questions? Send us a DM or leave a comment below!