Be Sustainable: Stony Brook’s 23-Year Tradition of Turning Tree Debris into Campus Mulch

Facilities and Services Manager Michael Youdelman in front of a mulch pile. Photos by Beth Squire.

As the largest public university in New York by area, the 1,454-acre Stony Brook campus includes thousands of trees that result in tons of downed limbs from storms and scheduled pruning and maintenance.

For the 23rd consecutive year, Stony Brook is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability through a unique recycling initiative that turns this woody debris into mulch for campus beautification. This long-standing effort involves collecting debris from overgrown greenery and trees that have fallen during storms or due to natural growth cycles or pruning. Instead of disposing of this organic material, the university collaborates with vendors to convert the debris into a high-quality mulch that helps beautify and sustain the university's landscape.

"Facilities and Services is proud of our campus' recycling efforts, particularly our annual initiative to transform woody debris into mulch for our campus garden beds and landscapes," said Bill Herrmann, vice president of Facilities and Services. "This is a perfect example of how Stony Brook continues to reduce waste to landfills, while fostering a more sustainable environment."

Tree debris being turned into mulch. Stony Brook processes about 3,000 tons of mulch annually.

Each year, a vendor visits the campus to grind the accumulated debris into a fine mulch. This material is then distributed across the university's many garden beds, enriching the soil and contributing to the campus's landscape. The use of mulch not only helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds but also adds a well-maintained appearance to the plantings across campus.

"This mulch is essential for the grounds departments," explained Facilities and Services Manager Michael Youdelman, who oversees the recycling program. "It not only beautifies our campus but also helps in water retention and soil enrichment."

The scope of the project is staggering. "We estimate that we process about 3,000 tons of mulch annually," Youdelman said.

This recycling process is not just about reducing waste, it's also about enhancing the campus environment in a sustainable way. The mulch produced is typically allowed to sit for six to eight months before being used around vegetation, ensuring that it is stable and effective for landscaping purposes. "The mulch needs time to sit and stabilize," explained Youdelman. "Once ready, it reduces in size by about 40% and becomes safe to apply without harming vegetation."

Now in its third decade, the recycling program continues to play a crucial role in maintaining the health and beauty of the Stony Brook campus.

"Educating people is something I am mindful of in my role," Youdelman said. "I see this initiative as an opportunity to create an end product. Instead of going out and buying mulch, we put it back on the campus land from the very trees that grow here. Turning waste into valuable resources is something we've done for years, and it's something I'm proud of."

- Beth Squire

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