IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF AN IN-VESSEL COMPOSTER FOR MANAGING ORGANIC WASTE

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: EVANS-ALLEN
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0198272
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2003
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2004
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
820 CHESTNUT ST
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 651023537

Performing Department
STATION STAFF

Non Technical Summary
Organic waste including food waste, livestock products, and manure can impact and pollute our environment by generating offensive odors, attracting undesirable insects and rodents, and contaminating surface waters. This project will involve processing food waste generated from the cafeteria at Lincoln University in an in-vessel composter.Based on our results, other types of organic waste will be used. The goal is to reduce and divert the organic waste stream generated at Lincoln University and neighboring areas.

Animal Health Component

70%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

70%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
133	5370	1070	50%
403	5370	1100	50%

Knowledge Area
403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse; 133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation;

Subject Of Investigation
5370 - Sewage and waste disposal facilities and systems;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1100 - Bacteriology;

Keywords

organic waste

implementation

composts

composting

waste management

pollution control

food waste

carbon

equipment

formulations

universities

demonstration

process development

engineering

cost effectiveness

solid waste

Goals / Objectives
This proposed project plans to process primarily food generated at Lincoln University during the initial year of the study. Based on the performance of the process, other types of organic waste will be used from the local community.The ultimate goal is to reduce and divert the organic waste stream generated at Lincoln University and neighboring areas. The specific objectives of this project include: developing formulas/recipes for mixing food waste and carbon sources in an inh-vessel composter evaluating the capacity and cost effectiveness of the composting system analyzing the qualities of the final product opening the facility to the public for demonstrations and education purposes.

Project Methods
Five phases to accomplish the objectives must be implemented: The initial phase is for planning and preparation; specific tasks will focus on site and composter selection, floor and building designs,designating duties for the composter operator, and developing as recycling program on campus. The second phase involves installing the composter at a secure and protected site and operator training. The third phase involves the operation of the composter which is dependent on collecting and transporting food waste from the cafeteria to the composting site. Maintaining the operation of the composter and analyzing the nutrient contents of the compost generated will be done according to protocols modified from the literature. The fourth phase involves the utilization of finished compost.The compost will be used as soil amendments, mulching materials, and for fertilizer to support campus landscaping, and vegetable and herb plots for public demonstrations, and community gardening projects. The fifth phase will focus on assessing the composter capacity and cost effectiveness. Assessment of the effectiveness of the composter when other sources of solid waste are mixed with food waste will be made. The quality of the final products and compost blends with other horticultural additives will also be evaluated. The future plan includes exploring possibilities of sharing the facility with other institutions of learning in the vicinity, composting other organic waste, and marketing the final product.

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
This USDA grant enabled us to improve the safety measures and efficiency of LU compost facility and to employ a part-time operator to manage the facility. Food waste of one-and-a-half to two tons was processed at the compost facility weekly during University session. Time required for processing food waste and transporting food waste was two to three hours for each operation. It is more economical to process larger amount of food waste less frequently in a week than processing smaller amount of waste daily due to reduction of total operational costs and time. LU compost facility improves LU solid waste management system and reduces organic waste transported to landfills and sewer. Composting and related activities including compost process monitoring, laboratory evaluation of compost quality, and compost applications have strengthened the LU research programs and subsequently benefits students and the community.

Impacts
The newly constructed facility serves Lincoln University well in managing its food and other organic waste. The University uses the high quality compost in landscaping and flower beds on campus. The compost facility also serves as a learning and resource center for the students and local community. This model could be used by other institutions to improve their solid waste management.

Publications

• Banks, M., Johnson, H., Eivazi, F., Nkongola, N. 2005. Effects of applying composts of different origin on chemical and physical properties of a specific medium used to grow native plants in Missouri. MO Academy Science.

Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
Work over the past six months included the following activities:1.Reviewed commercial in-vessel composter designs; 2.Surveyed and created layout designs of compost sites at of the Busby Farm site;3.Prepared specifications for bids on an in-vessel composter; 4.Bids on the in-vessel composter system were opened on March 22, 2004. A BW-Organics Composter will be purchased;5.Met with key university staff, student leaders, and local recycling company owners on planning a university-wide recycling program. Currently we are preparing for the next phase of the project which will primarily focus on preparing the site that will house the in-vessel-composter at Lincoln University's Busy Farm.

Impacts
This project will have a positive impact by reducing the solid waste stream on campus and subsequently will contribute to improving environmental pollution, increasing the awareness of recycling, and promoting environmental conservation. Additionally, the organic compost generated will be used as a natural fertilizer for farm plots and landscape areas on the campus of Lincoln University.

Publications

• No publications reported this period