The Science of Composting session one

Composting Methods Types of Compost Programs How to Pick the Right Program

Compost Methods Hot Compost

Greens and Browns Carbon rich Nitrogen rich

Vermicomposting

Anaerobic Digestion

Curbside Collection Compost Programs

Drop Off Site

Business Food Waste

On-Site Composting

Compost Education

Picking the Right Program Community Needs Assessment Resources Available Form Partnerships, Find Champions Connect Service and Learning Get Organized

Assess the Need in your Community – Tribal, State, Federal Legislation – Waste Audit Residential, Tribal, Business, School, etc. What % of your total waste is compostable? What are your feedstocks – What is currently happening with compostable items-local composting programs, existing yard waste site, landfill

Resources – Funding Sources – Staff – Equipment – Choose priorities Value to Tribal Organization Value to Community Level of interest Feasibility

Form Partnerships – Tribal Farm – Tribal Utilities/Public Works – Natural Resources Department – Grounds keeping/Landscapers – Food Distribution/Community Garden – Planners/Zoning – Land Management – Tribal Gaming – Local Municipalities – Hauling Companies

Find Champions – Community Members – Tribal Elders – Tribal Government – Tribal School Teachers and Students

Connect Service and Learning – Youth or At-Risk Programs – Student Environmental Groups – College Students-thesis project – Class project-Middle/High School

Get Organized  Set goals  Establish timelines  Determine evaluation points  Get Upper Level support  Advertise-Promote the project  Develop a budget  Raise funds

Example Goals and Timeline Curbside Collection Of Source-Separated Organics in the City of Wayzata Final Report – Phase 1 wayzata.pdf file

Example Goals and Timeline Project Goals Achieve 80% organic waste diversion at ACC Eastview Campus through composting Achieve reduced landfill waste hauling fees by diverting organic waste out of the landfill dumpsters. Enhance the educational experience for Culinary Arts and Children’s Lab Students Engage the larger community in composting practices and awareness

Project Implementation The ACC Eastview Campus Composting program was developed and implemented in two phases. The first phase addressed food waste from the Culinary Arts Program and it’s dining service and Children’s Lab School. The second phase focused on used paper towels from the restrooms. Timeline Phase I – Composting program at the Culinary Arts Program and Children’s Lab school October 2011 – Program Assessment, including the dumpster observation and Custodian survey. November Recruit the team and seek the buy-in from the campus management December 2011 – Research the appropriate composting vendor January 2012 – Implement the very first composting pilot program with spring semester students at the Culinary Arts program. February 2012 – Expanded the composting practices to the Child Lab program

Phase II – Paper towel composting from 40 restrooms October Worked with campus management and building attendants to conduct a two-week dumpster observation study. Daily observations indicated the percentage that each landfill and recycle dumpster was full and the number of visible bags of paper towels in the landfill dumpster. November Held program development meetings with purchasing staff, campus management, and building attendants to determine program logistics that would simplify the custodial tasks related to composting, limit costs associated with compostable bag use, and ensure project sustainability. December Developed Signage, campus message, and web page information about the paper towel composting program. December Purchased green composting receptacles to replace the black landfill receptacles in the restrooms. December Partnered with the ACC Building and Construction department to design and make a paper towel compressor for building attendants to use January Placed new composting bins with educational signs in the restrooms. Sent out campus-wide to faculty, staff, and students announcing the paper towel composting program. Decreased landfill dumpster hauls from three times per week to two times per week.

Ongoing - Current Maintain a database with compost volumes reported by our vendor Periodic discussions with stakeholders to ensure the program continues to function in terms of diversion; ease for building attendants, program staff, and students; cost-effectiveness.