History

In the Fall of 2007, Connecticut College students decided that they wanted to reduce the amount of food scraps being disposed by the dining halls. To support this vision, the students developed a composting plan and entered the Ecomagination Challenge, a nationwide competition sponsored by GE and MTV-U that challenged college students to develop new, creative ways to promote sustainability on college campuses.

More than 100 colleges and universities submitted proposals, including Harvard University, New York University and Stanford University, with Connecticut College finishing in the top 10. Though our students did not receive a prize to implement their plan, an alumnus, inspired by the students' motivation, generously donated $25,000 to their effort. This donation funded the purchase of the two Earth Tubs that have since made composting at Connecticut College a reality.