Food and Dining Composting at Clark University Dave Schmidt NACUBO April 1 st 2008
Jan 02, 2016
Genesis
• Student group project, spring 2006
• Focused on waste from Clark Dining Services
• Proposed the installation of Earth Tubs
• Taken up by the Sustainability Task Force in fall 2007
• Committee formed to conduct analysis
Annual Baseline Scenario
• 35 Yard roll-off compactor
• $150 / month for service charge = $1800
• $115 per lift, once a week = $5980
• $77 per ton = $18,249 (237 tons / year)
Earth Tub Scenario
• Purchase 3 Earth Tubs = $30,000 total
• Material can be cured and stored at arboretum, used on grounds
• Students estimated 57 tons diverted ~ savings of $4,400 / year
• Reduce pickup schedule to once every 2 weeks ~ savings of $3,000 / year
• Roughly 4 year payback
We Care Scenario
• Tip at We Care Composting Facility • Increase materials that can be composted• Use existing waste hauler’s service and
container • Divert trash to a nearby compactor • Increased hauling costs ~ $200 per lift• Decreased per ton fee to ~ $60 • No significant net cost increase
Planning
• Summer 2007
• Scope – one building
• Committee of building occupants, dining service managers, and Physical Plant staff
• Developed plans for infrastructure, cost handling, and procurement
Implementing
• New bins
• Purchase compostable cutlery and service ware
• Divert trash from other buildings
• Design educational campaign targeting– Dining Services staff– Building users
Operations - Collections
Collect materials from:– Food preparation– Post consumer waste– Containers within the building
Operations – We Care
• Handle all organic and biodegradable material, including waxed and soiled OCC
• Auger extracts plastic bags
• Prohibit “sharps” – anything that can puncture the skin of a worker
• Type 1 compost – permitted for unlimited distribution
Data
• Online at the end of August
• As of February 1st, 145 tons collected
• Clark delivers a premium mix, only 5% is trash
• Composting program has offset 44% of total daily trash
Emissions
• Clean Air Cool Planet Carbon Calculator
• Daily waste handled in Mass Burn Facility
• 137 tons of trash generates (15) MT CO2e
• Mass Burn less CO2 intensive than grid
• 137 tons of compost generates (25) MT CO2 e
• Clark’s approach: consistent with WRI