COMPOSTING AS A SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

AN ACCOUNT OF A UNIVERSITY EXTENSION EXPERIENCE AT ECOPOINT

Abstract

Abstract: This article describes the university extension experience developed by students of the Administration course at the Fanor Wyden University Center in conjunction with Ecopoint, an environmental sanctuary located in Fortaleza, Ceará. The project, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production), target 12.5, aimed to implement a composting system as a social and environmental technology applied to the management of organic waste generated in the space. Based on a participatory diagnosis, the absence of a structured process for reusing waste was identified, which motivated the planning and execution of actions aimed at the separation, composting, and conscious disposal of organic matter. The methodology adopted included field visits, collaborative meetings with the Ecopoint team, and the installation of composters and selective collection containers. The results point to the potential of composting as an instrument of environmental education, generation of economic value, and strengthening of Ecopoint's institutional image as a sustainable reference, in line with the 2030 Agenda.

Keywords: composting; sustainability; organic waste; SDG 12; university extension.