Pilot Composting Project
Solid Waste generation data shows that nearly thirty percent of our total municipal solid waste is comprised of yard
trimmings, wood and food wastes. Resource Conservation and Recycling (RCR) staff proposed a pilot food waste composting project to help reduce
food bills in scholarship halls and hopefully, reduce waste disposal costs. Facilities Operations (FO) and staff at the animal care facility
agreed to work with RCR staff in January 1997.
The Technical Team:
Technical assistance for setting up the pilot came from numerous resources. Other composters, such as Carol Shanklin and Chuck Marr of Kansas
State University, Larry Wilhelm a master composter in Texas provided helpful technical input. The Kansas Department of Health & Environment
was contacted to be certain KU was in compliance with State solid waste regulations. After RCR staff submitted a proposal and site plan, the
Bureau of Waste Management gave approval for the compost pilot on March 26, 1997.
The Site and Source:
The FO Landscape Department worked with RCR to provide a remote site on Campus West for the pilot. The area of land used for the windrow was
located near windrows of campus landscape waste (tree branches, leaves, old flower beds) and fill dirt.
Once that location was agreed on, RCR approached one of the scholarship halls about participating in the pilot. After gaining approval from
Student Housing, students in Douthart Hall were educated as to proper sorting techniques and helped to develop a collection schedule. Large
five gallon buckets were donated to the hall for collection of food wastes, informational sheets were provided to help students - sorting and
collection began on March 28, 1997.
The Carbon and Nitrogen Mix:
The local utility company, Kansas Power and Light, agreed to have their contractor donate two loads of wood chips from their tree-trimming
department. Another source of carbon in the form of animal bedding comprised of aspen tree shavings, was offered by staff at the animal care
unit in an unlimited supply. Both materials were used for the carbon base, while food waste was the nitrogen source.
Building the Windrow:
On April 21, 1997, the first 65 pounds of food waste easily mixed into a bed of a quarter yard of shredded wood chips and 100 pounds of animal
care bedding. Approximately 20 gallons of water was used to soak down the materials used for the base of the windrow. The food waste was spread
into a trench in the middle of the windrow and slowly worked into the carbon materials. Volunteer Tim Evans, in the above photo, is adding the
first batch of food waste into our windrow, just in time for our Earth Day kick off. Other RCR recycling technicians also helped to maintain the
windrow.
RCR staff expanded the food waste-composting project by adding another scholarship hall.
Grace Pearson, one of the men's scholarship halls, joined the effort and began diverting their food waste at the beginning of the Spring '98
semester. The students in Douthart and Grace Pearson continued to divert their food waste through '98, until we lost use of the site due to
construction. Our finished product of approximately 3 cubic yards of compost was used in a xeriscaping project located at Burt Hall.
