About Us: Associated Students Composting (ASC) provides organic waste collection for eateries in the Isla Vista Community. ASC will maintain this service, sanitarily transforming the organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Our Goal: Through diversion of organic waste from area landfills we wish to help the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division of Santa Barbara fulfill its mission, “To protect the public
health and environment of our community by efficiently managing waste products and utilities with a focus on resource conservation.” Furthermore, our goal is to educate the community about composting in order to spread environmental awareness, and to encourage the application of these skills in daily life.

Brief History: ASC started in September 2005 by a group of UCSB students motivated to create an effective and large-scale composting program within the Isla Vista community. By November 2005, ASC working with the IV Recreation and Park District constructed the first of four worm boxes in People’s Park. Contracts with local businesses such as Jave Jones and Super Cucas were established to provide compost for the worms, and student volunteer route riders regularly collected this waste. Castings were donated to local farms and gardens as the program developed, and workshops and outreach events in the community were hosted in order to educate the community about vermicomposting.