Elizabeth Smith
Iowa State University, MS Community & Regional Planning/Sustainable Agriculture
EREF Scholar 2024
Comparative Analysis of Municipal Composting Systems and Strategies for Implementation
This research seeks to understand the extent to which municipal food waste management programs influence the management practices on the campus within each college town, and the overall sustainability of the community through emissions reductions. Findings from this study will benefit communities interested in expanding food waste diversion programs, which can also extend to the college campuses within those communities. In addition, in the consideration of communities establishing greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and adopting Climate Action Plans, a collective initiative around food waste diversion offers a substantial “town and gown” relationship component, benefiting both community and campus. Through surveys, interviews, and site visits, I will explore characteristics that contribute to the success of food waste management programs, as well as how campuses and their communities can work together to address issues related to food waste management. My research will also offer a framework for best practices in campus food waste management, which will be an important step for campuses to take as more of them unveil climate action plans or goals. It will also demonstrate how universities can act as role models for the communities in which they reside, overcoming the disconnect that often forms between campus and community members.
Biography
Elizabeth graduated from Iowa State in May 2023 with a degree in Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a dual degree in Community & Regional Planning and Sustainable Agriculture, with a minor in Spanish, also at Iowa State! She expects to finish this degree in 2026. She has completed two service terms with Green Iowa AmeriCorps, working on environmental stewardship initiatives in various parts of the state. Elizabeth currently works as a graduate research assistant on a project focused on the perception of solar energy, and also works as a graduate assistant for the Office of Sustainability. There, she aids in collecting and organizing data for Iowa State’s sustainability benchmarking work to keep track of their progress towards their sustainability goals!
