Implementing a composting system at UBC Okanagan : a feasibility study
Creators: name: Ehman, Sarah
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2014

description: UBC Okanagan is on a mission is to become the “greenest” campus in Canada. Organic waste composting would reduce the amount of solid waste that UBC Okanagan sends to the landfill, and would provide material for landscaping on campus. The purpose of this research project is to identify an appropriate composting system for UBC Okanagan. A suitable composting system must take into consideration the following: composter capacity, acceptable compostable materials, rates of decomposition, purchase and maintenance costs. I had informal conversations with people working at UBCO to determine the location, logistics, and system requirements for a composting system on campus. Kris Bruckmann, the Aramark Food Service Director, and Darren Bezanson, the Aramark Head Chef, provided information on waste production in the kitchen and cafeteria. I spoke with Al King, with Facilities Management, about composting generally, as well as potential locations for a composting system. Finally, I spoke with Roger Bizzotto, UBCO Facilities Manager, and discussed the details of operating and maintaining a composting system. A pilot study monitored the amount of compostable wastes generated in the kitchen and cafeteria for the period February 25 to 29, 2008. The kitchen generated approximately 1600 liters of compostable wastes consisting largely of vegetables, fruit and coffee grounds. Special bins were provided in the cafeteria into which people could choose to deposit their organic and compostable wastes; approximately 225 liters of wastes were collected, but this volume represents perhaps 10% of the compostable wastes generated in the cafeteria since few chose to separate their garbage. The cafeteria is shifting from Styrofoam take-out containers to biodegradable ones that could provide the necessary “brown matter” needed for the composting process. Based on these results, I recommend the University purchase and install two Earth Tubs made by Green Mountain Technologies. Earth Tubs are a small in-vessel composting system that can break down 450 to 1700 liters of wastes per day, including up to 10% of the total volume of meat and dairy, which is approximately the amount collected in the cafeteria. The Earth Tubs take two and half weeks to fill to a total capacity of 4500 liters. Once the Earth Tub is full the final decomposition process takes an additional two weeks. I recommend that the Earth Tubs be installed in the Facilities Management compound where there is plenty of space for operation and expansion. UBCO will need to hire additional staff or train existing staff to operate and maintain the Earth Tubs. Green Mountain Technologies estimates that it will cost $11,500 to purchase and ship Earth Tubs to UBC Okanagan. As the UBC Okanagan campus continues to grow, additional Earth Tubs can be added to accommodate the increase in organic waste production. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”