Compost Workshop Oct. 1st, 2011

The day was beautiful and so was the food waste about to be composted.  A solid group of workshop participants gathered at the campus garden to spend the day learning about composting.

After an hour or so of discussing what compost is, why to compost, what can compost and how to compost the real fun began.

Crews split off to perform tasks all across the campus garden.  One crew collected and chopped fresh vegetative matter.

Another crew transported compost feedstock materials to their final resting places.

Yet another crew excavated several raised beds to be rejuvenated.

 Once excavated a layer of hay was put down.

Then a layer of vegetative waste, food wastes and started compost was placed on top.

Followed by a layer of soil, a layer of hay, a layer of soil and a layer of hay to cap the bed off.  The layers were watered to ensure the even distribution of moisture.

The beds were piled well over capacity to compensate for settling of materials.  By next spring these beds should be in prime condition to pump out some produce.


Thanks to everyone who made it out, you did a great job!

April 28, 2011 Meeting

  Campus Compost Commission 

April 28, 2011

The Campus Compost Commission mission is to maximize the benefits attainable from pre and post consumer food wastes generated at UWSP.

Present Situation:

DeBot generates 600 lbs per week of pre-consumer food waste and 95 gallons (769.5 lbs) per week of post-consumer food waste. The post-consumer food waste is run through a pulper reducing its size and removing roughly 80% of the water contained in the waste. DUC food waste data is not known and the DUC does not have a pulper. The pre-consumer waste is vermicomposted or piled behind the current recycling building on the North end of campus by Schmeekle Reserve. The post-consumer waste is disposed of by Veolia for a cost of $30 per load.

150 cubic yards per year of landscape debris (grass, leaves, woody debris) collected and processed on campus behind the recycling building.

Desired Situation:

Full processing of pre and post consumer food waste on site, ran and operated by students. Compost could be used on site for landscaping and by the campus garden. The composting operation would be an educational vessel, spreading the knowledge and practice of composting to the student body, surrounding community, and communities wherever UWSP students may go.

Next Steps?

The next steps which were agreed upon include an accurate and thorough DUC audit of pre and post consumer waste. It was also determined that a thorough economic analysis of the situation be conducted.   The composting system would be two in-vessel systems (12' x 8' x 64") alternating two weeks filling and two weeks composting.  The collection infrastructure is currently in place.  It was mentioned that PLA cups are difficult to compost requiring high temperature for extended periods of time.  Replacement of PLA cups with a regular paper cup (locally sourced if possible) would allow that waste stream to be compostable on-site.