Tammy Morgan About Me: AP Environmental Science, Biology and Life Science Teacher Lake Placid High School, NY 2011 BBEP Fellowship; Pace University - Energy and Climate Center North Elba Anaerobic Digester Project Founder and Leader
North Elba s BIOnic Belly Organics Recycling Program for Lake Placid Region Converting Municipal Food Waste to Electricity and Fertilizers 2013 Regional Economic Development Council Award 2
Sustainable Waste Management Waste management that meets the needs of the present without ruining things for future generations
Sustainability requires balance Good for the environment Good for people / society Good for economy / jobs http://www.ciria.org.uk/complianceplus/sustainability.htm
Active landfills in NYS 1998 Closure of the Essex County Landfill marked Albany s commitment to no municipal landfills in the Adirondack Park North Elba, Essex County
Current Solid Waste Management North Elba pays close to $300,000 annually to send up to 4000 tons of solid wastes to distant landfills
Average Tipping fees in the US increased $1.24 per year from 1985-2010 North Elba pays $55/ton Communities near us already paying double Vt. avg = $90, Maine = $100, Mass = $74
Food Waste = Largest Component of Landfilled Wastes http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/organics/food/fd-basic.htm
Composting vs Anaerobic digestion Aerobic (requires O 2 ) Does not produce biogas Better for woody debris / yard wastes Fats and oils slow down the process Produces compost Organic fertilizer Anaerobic (without O 2 ) Produces biogas = (60-70% methane) Too much woody debris slows down the process Fats and oils increase energy value and feed the system Produces digestate liquids = fertilizer Solids = bedding or soil amendments
2012 Feasibility Study Organic Waste Management Proposal for North Elba Best solution = anaerobic digester and composting Anaerobic digester HUGE Savings + Marketable products Biogas electricity Liquid Digestate fertilize athletic fields Solid Digestate coupled with compost facility compost 2013 Regional Economic Development Council Award 10
Victory For Our Region 2014 North Elba received a Regional Economic Development Award $1,281,000 to build an anaerobic digester at the North Elba transfer station 2013 Regional Economic Development Council Award 11
North Elba Transfer Station Proposed digester location 20 acres = Capped Landfill (potential energy crops) Potential site for Greenhouses utilizing waste heat from digester
The BIOnic Belly of North Elba Bioferm s Eucolino model Coming in 2016 Easy installation ready to operate upon delivery Small footprint (700-1240 ft 2 ) Model for other communities
Commercial Food Waste Available LP, SL Region Commercial Businesses 1,800,000 lbs/yr 900 tons 1,300 moose 900 tons in the Digester 315,000 kwh Enough to fully power ~ 29 homes / year
Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) Potential for Growth Potential to expand Residents additional 189 tons Potential energy crops 100tons 5tons / ac on 20 acres 101,150 kwh / year
Digestate AA Dairy, Candor NY Liquids = spread on fields and used in greenhouse Nitrogen fertilizer Solids composted and sold at $25/yd 3
North Elba Proposal for Digestate Liquids to be applied directly to Athletic fields Decreases the need for nitrogen fertilizers Solids 300,000 lbs compost /yr
Partners/Timeline Partners and Consultants include: Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), Casella Organics, Clarkson University, Earth Science Engineering, Bioferm Energy Systems a Viessmann Corporation, Cornell NBBEP, the Wild Center 2016 construction Commissioning (April 2017)
Savings / Operating Cost Estimates
Phase 2: Waste heat and electricity from generators greenhouse
Barham Farms, NC
Success Depends on Education
Student Work
AP Environmental Science Projects Students learn about biomass production, development and logistics by growing an energy garden. Based on student estimates Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) grown on the 20 acre capped landfill could produce an additional 35,000kwh annually.
Pilot Project Students in the Lake Placid Central School District adopt a 3 stream waste management system (organics for all food waste and food stained paper products; zero sort recycling for paper metal cardboard and glass; and landfill waste). Working with BIOFerm engineers students collect and determine energy yields from organic waste samples. According to initial testing 1 ton of food waste 350kWh of electricity.
Summer Pilot Study
Think Beyond Waste Questions??