Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Reducing the Waste Stream: Bringing Environmental, Economical, and Educational Composting to a Liberal Arts College
EPA Grant Number: SU833564Title: Reducing the Waste Stream: Bringing Environmental, Economical, and Educational Composting to a Liberal Arts College
Investigators: Kanazawa, Mark , Melton, Ali , Bosworth, Claire , Bansberg, Claire , Rothman, Jesse , Sawtell, Shaun
Institution: Carleton College
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: May 31, 2006 through September 30, 2008
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The continued disposal of waste into methane-emitting landfills is proving to be growing environmental concern because of methane’s role as a greenhouse gas and its contribution to global warming. Thus, there is a greater necessity for innovative ideas that continue to remove waste while reducing or eliminating the deleterious environmental impacts. The proposed composting project examines waste disposal options for Carleton College and the Northfield Public School District in order to devise an economically feasible and large-scale system that will properly dispose of food waste and significantly decrease the demand for methane-producing landfills.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The Northfield, Minnesota area contains three institutions that produce a large amount of compostable food waste. St. Olaf College uses a large-scale on-site composting machine that effectively transforms the food waste to compost, but the system requires an immense start-up cost. Carleton College has signed a contract with the company responsible for the campus’s waste disposal to bring the food waste to a separate composting company. The final major source of food waste is the Northfield Public School District which does not currently treat food waste different from any other type of waste. Implementing Earth Tub composting units developed by Green Mountain Technologies is one possibility that could supplement the composting system at Carleton College and offer a composting alternative to the Northfield School District.
Conclusions:
Carleton College’s current composting contract does not incorporate all sources of food waste on campus and could benefit from a separate composting system – an Earth Tub – that manages the leftover food waste. In addition, it would be worthwhile to set up composting units at various sites around the Northfield Public Schools in order to reduce their contribution to landfills. The on-site composting at both locations would serve as a tremendous educational opportunity providing a hands-on, interactive demonstration of waste streams and their environmental consequences.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies: An initial Earth Tub will be used not only to capture the remaining food waste at Carleton College, but it will also demonstrate the technology to the Northfield School District. We propose that additional Earth Tubs be established around the school district. The produced compost will be used on site, at the respective schools, but there is also the possibility of donating it to area farmers. Just Food, a local organic grocery store, supports the project and is willing to connect the composting project with farmers who provide produce for the store.
Supplemental Keywords:
clean technologies, pollution prevention, innovative technology, waste minimization, Midwest, Minnesota, MN, EPA Region 5, sustainable industry/business, sustainable environment, technology for sustainable environment,Relevant Websites:
http://www.gmt-organic.com/ Exit
http://www.justfood.coop/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.