UArizona Compost Cats

UArizona Compost Cats If you have questions or want to learn more about what we do, visit our website at compostcats.arizona.edu or email us at [email protected].

Compost Cats is a student-supported program of the University of Arizona’s Office of Sustainability that focuses on organic waste reduction and diversion, community outreach and engagement, public education, and research facilitation. The mission of Compost Cats is to promote environmental, economic, and social justice by creating a quality soil amendment while mitigating climate change, increasin

g food security, and empowering the community through experiential education, innovation, and environmental advocacy. We divert food waste through our residential compost program, the Bucket Program, our commercial compost program in partnership with the City of Tucson, the FoodCycle Program, and at our demonstration sites throughout the city.

Thank you to the Arizona 4-H Youth Summit participants for joining us in ENR2! Swipe to learn more about this event!
06/08/2026

Thank you to the Arizona 4-H Youth Summit participants for joining us in ENR2! Swipe to learn more about this event!

Happy Learn About Compost Day!Composting is one of the easiest ways to give food scraps a second life. Instead of sendin...
06/01/2026

Happy Learn About Compost Day!

Composting is one of the easiest ways to give food scraps a second life. Instead of sending organic waste to the landfill, composting turns it into nutrient-rich soil that can support plants, gardens, and healthier ecosystems.

Compost Cats is hiring!Want a student job where you get paid and make a visible impact on campus? Join our team as an En...
05/28/2026

Compost Cats is hiring!

Want a student job where you get paid and make a visible impact on campus? Join our team as an Environmental Education Specialist!

You’ll help with K-12 and community education, support workshops, work outdoors, and be part of the people behind composting at the U of A. No prior experience needed, we’ll train you.

Apply on Handshake, link in bio!

Ready to turn your food scraps into fuel for the future? If you’re interested in reducing household waste and learning a...
05/25/2026

Ready to turn your food scraps into fuel for the future? If you’re interested in reducing household waste and learning about the ins and outs of composting in our desert environment, this is your sign to get started. Swipe to view our upcoming in-person information sessions across Tucson throughout June.

Did you know your compost pile is full of living microbes that need water to survive? During the intense heat of a Sonor...
05/20/2026

Did you know your compost pile is full of living microbes that need water to survive? During the intense heat of a Sonoran Desert summer, a dry pile stops breaking down organic waste and goes dormant. Check out our Sponge Test to see how your compost is doing!

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 graduates! Your dedication, creativity, and hard work have left a lasting mark on the...
05/15/2026

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 graduates! Your dedication, creativity, and hard work have left a lasting mark on the Compost Cats program. We are so proud of your accomplishments and can’t wait to cheer you on as you embark on your next adventures!

Greta Cotraccia served as Maintenance Team Lead, as well as a member of the FoodCycle team. She is graduating with a major in Environmental Studies and minor in Sustainable Built Environments. Upon graduation, she plans to move to Austin, TX!

Kaitlyn Barth was our Environmental Education Team Lead, in addition to helping out with maintenance and outreach. She is graduating with a major in Leadership and Learning Innovation and minors in Astronomical Studies and Environmental Studies. This summer, she plans to road-trip to Pennsylvania and work at a summer camp at Elmwood Park Zoo!

Kayden Martinez worked as an Environmental Education Specialist. He is graduating with a BS in Geography, BA in Environmental Studies, and minors in Marine Science, Geography, and Environmental Studies. Post-graduation, he will intern at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama, the state’s primary marine education and research center. At the end of the summer, he will head off to pursue a Professional Science Master’s in Marine and Environmental Science at the University of the Virgin Islands!

Laurel Doan served as a Compost Systems Specialist and assisted with outreach. She is graduating with a major in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science and a minor in Biochemistry. She plans to work for a year and then attend dental school!

Azzy Johnson worked as an Environmental Education Specialist, as well as contributed to the maintenance and FoodCycle teams. She is graduating with a major in Natural Resources!

Katie Sweet was our Marketing & Outreach Team Lead. She is graduating with a double major in Dance and Biosystems Engineering. Upon graduation, she intends to pursue a professional dance career while staying involved in research!

To all of our graduates, thank you for everything!

We’re so glad you asked! Compost Cats is a student-focused and community-based program within the University of Arizona ...
05/07/2026

We’re so glad you asked! Compost Cats is a student-focused and community-based program within the University of Arizona Office of Sustainability that works to divert food waste and mitigate climate change in Tucson.

Compost Cats transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, advancing waste diversion, climate action, and food security. Through advocacy, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, we provide free composting services, training, and resources to empower the Tucson and university communities in creating a more sustainable future. By leading these hands-on efforts, our student employees gain real-world experience and develop career-ready skills.

We support two major composting programs run by the City of Tucson Environmental Services: FoodCycle at Home and FoodCycle Commercial. FoodCycle at Home provides a drop-off residential composting service to divert food waste from Tucson community members. FoodCycle Commercial offers local businesses the opportunity to compost their food waste.

We also do education and outreach at our three major demonstration sites: Cooper Center, Tucson Village Farms, and the U of A Community Garden.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or check out the links in our bio!

This Cinco de Mayo, we’re thinking about food with more care. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, and it ca...
05/05/2026

This Cinco de Mayo, we’re thinking about food with more care. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, and it can also be a moment to reflect on how we prepare, share, and use food. We hope you find these tips helpful!

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? The Compost Cats team was inspired to test our poetry-writing skills. Swipe...
04/23/2026

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? The Compost Cats team was inspired to test our poetry-writing skills. Swipe to read the results... and if you’re feeling creative, even write your own poem in the comments!

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Compost Cat Emi, Kayden, and Dimi!Emi and Kayden recently worked at Reid Park Zoo...
04/23/2026

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Compost Cat Emi, Kayden, and Dimi!

Emi and Kayden recently worked at Reid Park Zoo, tabling for Earth Day at the Party For The Planet event. There, they supported outreach efforts by connecting with visitors, sharing information about composting and the City of TucsonFoodCycle@Home program, and engaging community members in meaningful conversations about sustainability. Later that same day, after her shift at the zoo, Emi continued her outreach by representing the Office of Sustainability at the Cooper Center Earth Day Celebration with Dimi, where they distributed composting materials, facilitated a sustainability sorting game, and answered questions from attendees interested in learning more.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Address

1064 E. Lowell Street Room N495
Tucson, AZ
85719

Telephone

+15206217817

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UArizona Compost Cats posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to UArizona Compost Cats:

Shortcuts

Share