Sustainability Chats - YCAF: Meg Erdenebat

Meg Erdenebat brings an international perspective and a passion for environmental action to her work. Originally from Mongolia, Meg is a college student studying Environmental Development at her main university in Japan and attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse through an international exchange program. This summer, she shared her talents with us at the Sustainability Institute as the Summer Program Intern, compiling and sharing stories from other local YCAF project leaders.

Meg’s 2025 Youth Climate Action Fund project, Scraps to Soil, focused on enabling more La Crosse residents to compost at home. The project distributed 30 compost bins to households and provided expert-led education on effective composting practices. A hands-on workshop, hosted at People’s Food Co-op and taught by Dr. Jan Wellik, gave participants the knowledge and tools to confidently begin composting in their own kitchens and backyards.

By helping residents divert food waste from landfills, Scraps to Soil not only reduced household waste but also built awareness around the importance of composting in creating a more sustainable community. Meg’s efforts highlight how small, practical actions can lead to meaningful environmental change.

The Sustainability Institute would like to thank Meg for her work on this series and her dedication to her project. We wish her many successes in the rest of her journey and hope her own words echo in her mind as she continue on - "Be brave!"

About the YCAF Sustainability Chat Video & Blog Author:

Meg Erdenebat - Intern

The YCAF Sustainability Chat Series is compiled by the Sustainability Institute Program Intern - Meg Erdenebat. Meg is a college student from Mongolia who is currently at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse through their international student exchange program. Meg is working towards a bachelor's degree in Environmental Development at her main college in Japan.

"I am excited to be a part of the Sustainability Institute. I’ve just completed an academic year at UWL. My major is Environmental Development. Over the next two months, I’ll be working with the Sustainability Institute on their Sustainability Chats series interviewing Youth Climate Action fund recipients. This is my first job in the field, and while I’m both excited and a bit overwhelmed, I’m committed to doing my best to contribute."

The City of La Crosse was awarded a second round of funds in 2025 by Bloomberg Philanthropies allocating $85,000 for YCAF microgrants. This program is being coordinated by the City of La Crosse with the help of the Sustainability Institute and the La Crosse Area Community Foundation.