PRE- AND POST- CONSUMER COMPOSTING. Andrea Hasson, Kathryn Willson, Kim-Ashleigh Mostert, Nora Ko

Transcription

1 PRE- AND POST- CONSUMER COMPOSTING Andrea Hasson, Kathryn Willson, Kim-Ashleigh Mostert, Nora Ko

2 Terms and Definitions Pre-Consumer Composting - the biodegradable waste left over as a result of food preparation Examples: trimmings, eggshells, coffee filters etc. Post-Consumer Composting the biodegradable waste left over by the consumer Examples: napkins, food scraps, teabags

3 What is Composting The use of microbes to break down large, rapidly decomposing pieces of organic matter (like fruit peels) into much smaller, slowly decomposing pieces (resembling dirt) that can be used as fertilizer. Requires: Appropriate nutrient ratios (more carbon than nitrogen- most food waste is nitrogen) Moisture Oxygen Temperature

4 How is Composting Accomplished For larger volumes: Passive Windrows Aerated stackpiles

5 How is Composting Accomplished For medium/small volumes: Bins In-vessel systems Export to central compost facility or farm

6 Pros and Cons of Composting Pros Reduce pollution water and soil conservation avoids methane productionreduces need for landfill space Reduces food waste Saves money Reduces need for fertilizer and pesticides Helps regenerate poor soils Cons Costly Equipment marketing Time consuming Pests Education

7 Pre-Consumer Composting What is it? Organic waste generated in the kitchen Advantages Pre-sorted Staff can easily be trained Difficulties Expensive to create compost facilities Must train, plan, implement

8 Post-Consumer Composting What is it? Uneaten food: plate waste Some serving ware Compostable utensils Napkins Advantages Also a large waste stream Difficulties Difficult to separate More risk of contamination

9 UC System Composting Policies Objectives to divert 75% of waste this year and becoming zero waste sending no garbage to landfill- by 2020 Implementing campus-wide composting programs and educating people on using a green bin for organic waste is key to reaching this goal

10 Pros and cons of UC Policies Pros More sustainable Reduces landfill Reduces food waste Can save UC money Environmentally beneficial Cons Equipment costs Only so much you can recycle

11 UCD Composting Programs and Policies ASUCD: Project Compost Student run composting group Trayless Dining Removal of trays from DC to decrease post-consumer waste Staff Training Quarterly training for composting knowledge Biodegradable at Special Events All on campus events must have servingware

12 UC Davis Challenges to Composting Contamination Improper disposal Pick-up Removal Timely pick-up Biodegradables Proper disposal

13 City of Davis Composting Initiative Encourages backyard composting for residents City-run composting class Composting demonstration area Community Gardens on 5 th Street Types Worm composting bin Ground composting Food digester bin in the ground that worms attract to

14 Other Locations Miramar Greenery, San Diego Food waste from commercial locations are accepted for a discounted fee where the waste is composted (windrows) Sea World: 5 tons pre-consumer waste/week SDSU: 3 tons pre-consumer waste/week Others: SD International Airport, Feeding America food bank, Albertsons Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance San Francisco residents and businesses Goal: zero waste by 2020

15 Works Cited (n.d.). Retrieved 10 12, 2013, from University California Davis, Davis, California Composting: NAL.pdf About Poject Compost. (n.d.). Retrieved from Project Compost: Composting. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2013, from City of Davis: Composting Benefits and Disadvantages. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2013, from Alberta: Environmental Benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2013, from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Food Waste Composting: Institutional and Industrial Application. (2012, June 22). Retrieved October 13, 2013, from University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences:

16 Works Cited cont. Henry-Socha, N. A. (n.d.). Selecting Commercial Compost. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series : Mark Risse, e. a. (2012, June 22). Food Waste Composting: Institutional and Industrial Applications. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences: Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2013, from San Francisco Department of the Environment: Miramar Greenery Commercial Food Waste Recycling Participants. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2013, from The City of San Diego: Mok, H. (2012, May 23). UC Boosts Emphasis on Organic Waste. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from University of California:

17 Discussion Questions Do you as a consumer find composting in a facility such as the CoHo or Farmer s Market difficult? What can your apartment complex do to encourage composting? And if these facilities were available, would you compost or is it too inconvenient? Does your home city have a composting policy? What foodservice facility have you seen that has a composting program?