Maryland

Composting Goes Campuswide. We Break It Down.

Published

12 months ago

September 14, 2023

Composting Goes Campuswide. We Break It Down.

Portable, delicious—and if the old adage holds true, handy for keeping the doctor at bay—the apple could be nature’s perfect food. But up against a turkey club or chocolate chip cookie at a faculty lunch, the forlorn fruit is often the first to go into the trash can.

Now culinary castoffs like the overripe honeydew, limp deli pickle or half-eaten tuna sandwich languishing in departmental kitchens will have another shot at consumption—albeit by microbes rather than co-workers—as the University of Maryland expands its campus composting program this fall.

The program will offer composting opportunities at campus events and in academic buildings across campus, with big green compost bins appearing alongside their black (waste) and blue (recycling) counterparts in campus breakrooms, kitchens and common spaces.

“We want departments to donate excess food whenever possible, whether it’s to student groups or taking it back to the office to eat; we’d rather get food in people’s mouths over the compost stream,” said Karen Petroff, executive director of building and landscape maintenance in Facilities Management. “But when that’s not possible, we’re collecting and composting it.”

Dining Services and the Stamp Student Union have been composting all pre- and post-consumer food waste behind-the-scenes at UMD since 2014, with composting programs added to residence halls and campus cafes prior to the pandemic. Nearly 907 tons of food scraps were collected on campus in 2022—equaling the weight of up to six Boeing 747s. The expansion, currently underway in accordance with a new Maryland state law, will dwarf that number by requiring the collection of food scraps and compostable paper products for all campus events catering to five or more people.

“The fact that we as a university have access to these composting resources can make a big difference,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Tonggarwee, who orders catering for President Darryll J. Pines’ office several times a year and was an early campus composter. “And it’s so easy to do.”

For the uninitiated, or even for veteran backyard composters, the program may spur questions: Can I compost dairy? What’s considered a campus “event”? Am I required to compost if I’m just eating by myself? We break it down below with some bite-sized tips:

Know what to throw:
“If you can put it in your mouth, it’s compostable on campus,” said Facilities Management Coordinator Adrienne Small. That includes meat, bones, dairy and processed foods, but also non-edibles like pizza boxes, paper plates and teabags. Equally important is knowing what NOT to compost: metal, glass and any plastic, including plastic-coated paper (Small said a “tear test” will tell you quickly if it’s coated) should hit either the recycling or trash bin instead. Some plant-based plastics are compostable; look for their clearly marked “compostable” labels.

Right-size your order: The key to reducing food waste, said Petroff, is to prevent over-ordering in the first place. Not sure how much food you’ll need? Dining Services, whose catering crew also provides compostable plates, napkins and cutlery, can help you plan for optimum quantities. On a smaller scale, go with your gut, ordering the smaller salad at lunchtime or splitting that foot-long with a coworker.

Give it away, give it away now: If despite your best efforts you find yourself with leftovers, give it away—to faculty, staff and students to take home. Alternatively, organizations like UMD’s Food Recovery Network and Dining Services’ umfood@umd.edu
can connect still-fresh unserved food with empty bellies at shelters and food pantries.

Educate: The compost process is sensitive, said Small—if in doubt, the landfill is the answer. But educating your team—and for campus events, your guests—can go a long way in ensuring waste is sorted and disposed of responsibly. Informational materials can be ordered by emailing recycle@umd.edu (for extra bins, contact fmcrc@umd.edu).

Composting is for everyone (but especially for events): If you’re hosting or serving a meal for five or more people—whether it’s a student study group, an alum gathering or faculty search committee meeting—you’re required to give away or compost food scraps and compostable paper products. But Petroff hopes that won’t stop people from composting their PB and J crusts after eating lunch at their desk—and that with time, composting food scraps is as automatic as recycling. “I’d like to think that most people would put it in the compost bin if you had access to it,” she said.

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Maryland

3 Takeaways from the Spartans’ Victory over Maryland

Published

1 hour ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

3 Takeaways from the Spartans’ Victory over Maryland

The Michigan State Spartans under head coach Jonathan Smith are 2-0 thanks to a road win against a tough Maryland team, 27-24.

Resilience might be the word to describe this squad so far. The Spartans made some big blunders against the Terrapins and still found a way to battle back. The gritty performance might have been enough to get the Spartans into a bowl game.

Here are three takeaways from the Spartans’ win.

Aidan Chiles: Very Young, Very Talented

Chiles looked vastly improved from the home opener against Florida Atlantic. Again, he looked like an 18-year-old quarterback.

Chiles got not just his first passing touchdown as a Spartan, but three passing touchdowns to go with 24 of 39 passing and 363 yards. He also had three interceptions, which very nearly cost the Spartans the game.

Chiles has about as strong an arm as any quarterback to wear the green and white in recent memory. He is dangerous when he is on the move.

Perhaps a critique is that he should try to make more plays with his legs, he has seemed cautious to these first two games. The first pass rusher to get to Chiles likely won’t bring him down — Chiles has a great feel for the pocket and he is quite slippery.

Chiles overcame some poor mistakes and throwing mechanics (his feet tend to get wide and it factors into his overthrows) to lead the Spartans in the most critical of situations against a sturdy Maryland defense.

Huge game for Chiles, who showed why the hype was so promising.

Can the Spartans Stay Healthy on Defense?

Already, this Spartans squad is beaten up. Dillon Tatum, a key defensive back, lost for the season. Wide receiver Alante Brown, whose injury allowed for Nick Marsh to announce himself to the world, lost for the foreseeable future. Kristian Phillips at guard was huge.

During the Maryland game, several Spartans were beat up. Few even had to go into the tent on the sideline. It will be crucial for the Spartans to remain healthy, especially on defense. Most especially in the defensive backfield.

The Spartans are very confident in their young defensive backs — Justin Denson Jr., Andrew Brinson IV, and Jaylen Thompson can all be very good players, but they need more time to develop.

If more Spartans fall to injury, the defensive backfield could get very young.

Nick Marsh is the Real Deal

Marsh was the recruiting gem of 2024, the best player in a class with plenty of good talent. A highly-rated four-star, Marsh was the No. 107-ranked player in the class by 247Sports. Marsh, of course, stood out in fall camp like the high-profile recruit he was.

6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Marsh already had a man’s body. At just 18 years old.

“Possesses the size, athleticism, and multi-sport profile that projects very well in the long term,” 247Sports’ Gabe Brooks wrote. “Traitsy mismatch wideout with high-major impact potential and the ceiling to develop into an NFL Draft candidate.”

With the loss of Brown, Marsh was asked to step up. Step up he did — eight receptions for 194 receiving yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins might have his next in the line of Jalen Nailor, Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

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Maryland

Maryland, D.C. and Virginia get more money for house calls for moms and infants – WTOP News

Published

8 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Maryland, D.C. and Virginia get more money for house calls for moms and infants – WTOP News

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration will provide an additional $23.1 million in federal aid to the agency’s national Home Visiting Program in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

More money is on the way for a home-visiting health care program designed to provide better care for pregnant women, new parents and infants.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced an additional $23.1 million in federal aid to the agency’s national Home Visiting Program in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

The extra money is the first time in a decade that the program has received an increase in federal funds, HRSA administrator Carol Johnson said.

“What those resources mean is that we’re able to support nurses, social workers and trained home visitors, and help with those early days of being a new parent,” Johnson said. “All of this has been shown to really make a difference in kids’ outcomes. Kids are so much stronger because they get these kinds of supports.”

Johnson said the program’s success hinges on convenient health visits in a comfortable at-home setting.

“When you’re a new parent, if you have to take off from work and take a few buses to get to an appointment, you’re probably not going to do it,” she said. “But if that person comes to your house and they’re full of resources and knowledge, it’s going to make a huge difference to you.”

Rockville, Maryland-based HRSA spearheads the national program, teaming up with local health organizations to target and reach parents.

Home health care workers can provide breastfeeding support, safe sleep tips and developmental screening for babies. They can even help parents find key services like affordable child care or job and educational opportunities.

“It’s changed my life,” past program participant Fatima Ray said.

Ray said she was introduced to the program in 2015 when she needed help with her infant daughter. She and her husband were first-time parents and stumbled through the first few months with a newborn.

“It felt good, like I had someone on my team,” Ray said. “Those questions you forget to ask the doctor sometimes, she would answer them.”

The experience impressed Ray so much that she became a home health visitor. She is the maternal health coordinator at Primo Center, a homeless shelter for families in Chicago.

“The same care that was given to me, I just want to pass it on,” Ray told WTOP. “I know how much it made a difference in my life. Home visiting matters.”

President Joseph Biden signed bipartisan legislation in 2022 that doubles funding for the program over five years. The move was part of a campaign promise to lower risks linked to pregnancy and improve maternal health, especially among women in rural, tribal and low-income communities.

The national home visiting program will receive $440 million Maryland’s local programs will get $10 million of those funds. Virginia is slated to receive $11 million and D.C.’s home visiting programs will see a $2.5 million increase.

“This will push home visiting forward a lot more,” Ray said. “It’s just going to help tremendously.”

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Maryland

Watch Aidan Chiles, Nick Marsh talk MSU win over Maryland

Published

15 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

Watch Aidan Chiles, Nick Marsh talk MSU win over Maryland

Michigan State won a big time road game over Maryland, improving their record to 2-0, and giving head coach Jonathan Smith his first Big Ten conference victory as the head man of the Spartans.

A big part of that win was the connection between Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh, and more specifically their 77-yard touchdown connection tying the game 24-24 late in the fourth quarter.

Chiles and Marsh spoke to the media after the team’s win, which you can watch via Spartan Mag on YouTube:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner

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