On-campus food waste collection from student food groups.
STATUS: ACTIVE
SOCIAL: @abcompostmtl
WEBSITE:
https://concordiagreenhouse.com/abcompost/
UNIVERSITY: Concordia
ADDRESS: 7th floor, Hall Building, Greenhouse Lounge, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, Montreal
SCHOOL: Concordia University
CONTACT:
abcompostconcordiamtl@gmail.com
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ABCompost is a student-led composting initiative operating under the Concordia Greenhouse Project, focused on reducing food waste through small-scale, hands-on composting systems. Founded through Concordia’s Zero Waste program in 2022, the project uses vermicomposting (worm composting) and tumblers to transform campus food scraps into nutrient-rich soil.
With a strong educational mission, ABCompost runs workshops, demonstrations, and volunteer sessions to make composting accessible—especially for students without access to municipal compost systems. The initiative emphasizes reconnecting people to the waste cycle and building a more conscious campus food culture.
Through its integration into the Concordia Greenhouse Project, ABCompost continues to expand its impact through research, partnerships, and community-based learning.
Facilitated by the Concordia Greenhouse, a fee levy group and nonprofit organization.
KEY CHALLENGES:
- Growing composting capacity to match the scale of campus food waste, and Reduced access to food waste inputs during summer when campus food groups are closed.
KEY SUCCESSES:
- Diverting campus food waste into usable compost for gardens
- Building a hands-on composting culture at Concordia
- Hosting multiple workshops each semester to train students
- Collecting and processing food waste from campus food groups
- Integration into the Concordia Greenhouse, strengthening long-term sustainability
SERVICES
- Vermicomposting (worm composting) systems
- Compost production for campus gardens
- Workshops and training on composting methods
- Research on student composting habits
- Volunteer opportunities and hands-on composting sessions
GET INVOLVED
- Volunteer weekly at composting sessions (typically afternoons)
- Attend vermicomposting workshops
- Start your own compost system with their support
- Collaborate as a campus food group to divert waste
TIMELINE
- 2022 – Founded through Concordia’s Zero Waste program
- 2022–2024 – Operates composting systems and workshops on campus
- May 2024 – Flood at Z Annex disrupts operations and compost systems
- 2024 – Loses institutional funding during sustainability program restructuring
- Sept 2024 – Joins Concordia Greenhouse Project and relaunches operations
- 2024–Present – Expands workshops, research, and composting initiatives
NEWS ARTICLES
Worms on campus: A student-led project is changing compost culture at Concordia
VIDEOS
Related Projects
At Concordia
In Quebec
If this is your food group and you wish to make any changes to your page, please email us at info@concordiafoodcoalition.com.