Sustainable Food Waste Management Plan

Transcription

1 Sustainable Food Waste Management Plan Date: Feb 15, 2013 Project title: Sustainable Garden and Food Waste/Compost Management Amount requested: $ Proposal author/s: Brandon Mullis Contact information: Cell/Home- (907) , Academic Department CTC Welding Sustainability theme - Waste Management Project summary - This project address's two things UAF's need for a sustainable food waste management plan, and decreasing the non- recyclable (landfill) waste stream. I will construct (x3) three unit composting bin systems (see suggested design attachment) inside the fenced area of the UAF community garden, within the Sustainable Village, as well as in the Facility Services controlled Eco- Dump. This will be a pilot program that can be expanded to other sites such as dorms if this is successful. The project will also include an educational outreach towards students/staff/faculty. Project description - I moved to Fairbanks in September of this year from Gustavus, AK. There I worked at the community disposal recycling center (DRC) for a few years and gained a good amount of experience with composting on the municipal level. The idea with this project is to setup an easy to use, and visually attractive system, that will enable efficient composting while keeping the draw of wildlife to a minimum (i.e. features that make turning the piles easy, sides that are not easily pecked through but still allow sufficient ventilation, and a quality working lid). The design that I've decided on came from the co- operative extension (see attachment). My plan would call for the construction of (x3) of these Three- unit composting systems at specific locations around campus; inside the fenced area of the UAF community garden, within the to be Sustainable Village Garden, as well as in the Facility Services controlled Eco- Dump (the current composting yard). OOS staff and myself will follow that with focused educational outreach and development of the necessary infrastructure. The total cost for the project totals $ , which covers supplies/construction/outreach materials. I do not foresee the need to purchase new collection bins at this time, as existing bins are available. Goals: The main goal of the project is to take food waste out of the waste stream, and provide an empowering opportunity for the students to manage it on their own. Benefits range from a decreased/cleaner waste stream to engaging participants in sustainable life styles. Yearly cost savings come from a decrease in volume/weight of waste materials delivered to the landfill. Results will be measured on the basis of

2 participation and the working success of the compost system. Currently a large percentage of UAF's waste is paper that could potentially be added to the composting system. After talking with Darren Edson (AKA Bear) from facility services about this project, it was decided that one of the three- unit composting systems would be installed in the facility service managed eco- dump. This site would allow facility service to experiment on a small scale with inclusion of non- recyclable paper products into the composting scheme. My hope is that by developing solid infrastructure we can start to work our way towards establishing a working campus wide composting scheme that can handle all types of compostable materials. Project value - Compost for the gardens means potentially higher yields and better looking crops, without the addition of purchased fertilizers. It is something that can be seen, touched and tasted. All the while reducing dependence on store bought commodities, which in turn means less gas used driving to the stores and back, less packaging ending up in landfills, and most importantly good nutritious locally grown food. My experience with composting, and life cycles through managing my own garden have opened many unforeseen avenues of thought and experience. It about making that connection between the land and things that you use. These implications are the main concern here. When a person sorts recyclable from non- recyclable material it s an assessment of value. In general, value is placed on things based on their relevance to that individual. The point is without the relevance there is no value. By composting or recycling more of those valueless things that people take for granted (food scrapes, napkins, paper towels, etc.) we have a better chance of establishing relevance. Even on the most basic level of participation (sorting food scraps into an appropriate bin) takes a conscious effort generated by a perceived benefit. Implementation plan Using a table format, describe how you are going to get the project done and lay out how the project goals will be met. Include a column that identifies the person(s) responsible for each implementation step and/or oversight. Specify when funds will be spent and when project completion will occur. Example table: Date March March What will be done Material Purchase Design approval by OOS, Facility Responsible person Funds used Brandon Mullis $1, Brandon Mullis $0

3 Services, the Sustainable Village gardeners and UAF Community Garden Board March Construction Brandon Mullis $0 April Site Prep and Installation Brandon Mullis $0 March- May Educational Program/Outre ach OOS Student Employees $500 Outreach Plan As the project moves forward effective outreach will be critical to success. I ve been in contact with the writer of the previous post- consumer composting initiative Lex Treinen and so have been able to discuss the project on a working level- what works, and what doesn t work, and why. I look forward to working with Lex to build on existing infrastructure to develop a good plan that educates students on the often unseen environmental costs of poor buying/consuming habits and most importantly changes we can make in our lifestyles to effect good change right now. Newspaper articles, radio announcements, flyers around campus, table- top placards and posters in dining areas, clear and effective placement and labeling of collection bins are a great place to start. Special education will be required for compost users; community garden folks, and those at the sustainable village. I plan on having at least one meeting per site after installation to go over things, something that should happen once if not twice yearly. Information on how to use the compost system as well tables for keeping track of adding/turning will be laminated and kept on site for reference. Example outreach plan What outreach Venue Date Who will do it Article about OOS Student Sun star March project Employees Katie Public Service Cornerstone, March May Luper/Brandon Announcement Sun star, radio Mullis Class/Workshop Sustainable Village Course April Brandon Mullis Flyers Around campus March May Brandon Mullis Radio program KSUA, KUAC, April Brandon Mullis

4 KIAK Budget Round up to the nearest dollar. The proposal should include itemized costs for equipment, supplies, services, software, etc. Specific estimates provided by the manufacturer or suppliers are preferable. Shipping estimates should be included. Proposals, which have already researched and identified costs, will be reviewed favorably. Please attach any quotes from suppliers or catalog pages. Specify your intent to carry out the project and spend the award funds within the project timeline (typically no more than one year). Example budget: Equipment or supplies: Lumber- Cedar 2x4x12 1x6x12 Corrugated Roofing 12ft Hardware & Miscellaneous Quantity and Unit Price $13.65 $10.44 $32.39 Cost $ $ $130 Deck Screws Galvanized Nails Gasketed Screws Galvanized Hinges #2 Coil Chain Eyehook bolts/lags Quik Links Outreach Signs/Flyers Sub- Total Contingency Total X1-5 $15.00 X1-2 lb $31.50 $5.79 $1.17/ft $1.50 $1.50 (Additional 20%) $15.00 $21.00 $32.00 $70.00 $23.00 $18.00 $18.00 $ $ $ $ Budget justification Spenard Builders Supply was chosen as the supplier for this project mainly because I could purchase all necessary materials there at reasonable cost. Spenards has offered to give a contractors discount on supplies. My preference is always to buy local when I can, however in this case I chose to buy more expensive non- local lumber (Cedar as opposed to local ruff cut) that would have greater longevity without the environmental cost of treated lumber. This was an important

5 consideration due to the proximity/relation to food production. Qualification & Experience This project stems at least in part from previous employment in a small- scale rural disposal and recycling center in Gustavus, AK. There a community food waste management plan was established and implemented in 1996 and has been running successfully ever since. It is because of this that to me UAF s need for a sustainable food waste management plan is so apparent. I have been a carpenter/wood worker going on three years, which more than qualifies me for the implementation (i.e. construction, site prep, etc.) of the project. Technical advisers and collaborators Michele Hebert, Director, Office of sustainability Mahebert@alaska.edu, (907) Darrin Bear Edson, Superintendent of Operations, Facility Services dmedson@alaska.edu, (907) Attachments: Link to Gustavas Alaska Municipal Composting Program ak.gov/government/committees/disposal- recycling- center/planning/compostplan.htm) Support s: Forwarded message From: Darrin Edson Date: Friday, February 22, 2013 Subject: Compost Proposal To: Brandon Mullis <billthedog333@gmail.com> Brandon Looks to me as though you have done your homework and have created a good solid plan for the project. I look forward to my team helping you as much as we can this summer. I have set aside an hour next week, Tuesday the 26th at 9:00am, and would love to show you some of the things we are doing here at Operations, working toward a campus wide compost plan. Thanks, Bear Forwarded message From: Chas Jones Date: Monday, February 25, 2013 Subject: 3 bin compost system for UAF Community GArden To: Brandon Mullis <billthedog333@gmail.com> Brandon, based upon some internal s sent around this morning, it sounds like the community garden would be open to you installing compost bins at the garden if your project is funded. I think that getting Facility Services and Food Services onboard are your biggest challenges. My former university has a very active composting program that provides compost for the entire community of Flagstaff, AZ. Here is a link to their program, which has been active since before

6 I suspect that you will find that the RISE Board would be very interested in the institutionalization of a composting program, but it would require a lot more work than building compost bins. I think that NAU's system actually used heated garbage dumpsters to facilitate the initial breakdown of compost. All of their plates, and utensils sold at their dining halls were compostable and fed into the system. The biggest barrier was getting food services to use different trash receptacles in the kitchens for separating meat/cheese and compostable items. Chas Amendments to Design: The design from co-operative extension calls for hardware cloth along the outside walls and interior partitions of the compost storage compartments. I decided that replacing the hardware cloth with cedar slats would greatly increase the longevity of the units as well reduce waste from having to replace metal hardware cloth every time someone jammed a shovel through it. Fixed cedar slats on the outside walls and back, as well as removal slats on the inner partitions to facilitate turning the piles.