Expanding Compost at UC Davis

Waste Management Team

Brooke Garcher, Sabena Lodhi, Stephanie Tsai

“Farm to Fertile”

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The Problem● U.S. diversion rate

according to the EPA: 34%

● Feed America and ReFED

(2017) states:

○ 21% of the volume in

the landfill is food

waste

○ This is 72 billion

pounds of food wasted

per year

https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/content/uploads/2016/03/Food-Waste-Iceberg.jpg

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At Campus ScaleCoffee House Waste Audit 2016:

● Of the waste in the landfill bin,

73% can be composted

● Of the waste in recycling bin,

40% can be composted

● Compostable containers don’t

‘look’ like compost anymore

● Broadly speaking: 40% of total

University landfill stream can

be composted (2327 tons)

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Our Solution★ UC Davis is the most sustainable university in the world.

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But…

● We lack the accessibility to compost bins

● Our university lacks the foundation for waste education

Let’s increase the number of compost

bins and expand our knowledge!

Student Waste Aptitude Surveys● Stakeholders’ demand for more compost bins on

campus

● Stakeholders’ uncertainty for composting correctly

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33.9% 33.9%

32.1%

Student Waste Sorting Knowledge

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COMPOSTABLE COMPOSTABLE but needs additional processing

NOT COMPOSTABLE

● Banana peel 100%● Cookies 60.7%● Fruits and

vegetables 41.1%● Egg shells 91.1%● Coffee grounds

78.6%

● Meat/ meat products 55.4%

● Paper products 26.8%

● Pizza boxes 46.4%● COHO Coffee cups

26.8%

● Chip Bags and Wrappers 7.1%

● Plastic bags 0%● Glue and paint 0%● Starbucks plastic

cups 0%● Starbucks hot

beverage cups 12.5%

% of Students who think the product is compostable

Issues to Address

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❖ We have a lot of waste

❖ Lack of accessibility to compost bins

❖ Lack of education

❖ There is a DEMAND for compost

bins

Our Approach to the Problem

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Education and Outreach Component

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A-Frames:

Potential Ideas for Signage

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http://www.beyondcomposting.ca/vimages/life_cycle.pnghttps://www.jovoto.com/projects/betacup/ideas/4838

Stop, think,

Sort!

Did you

know...

Solution: Indoor CompostThere are several steps to bringing compost bins:

1. Acquire compost bins: any standard trash bin and determine quantity

2. Compensate custodial services for incorporating compost pickup-additional ½

hour of labor per day

3. Provide compostable liners for the building

Proposed Locations for Compost

-Shields Library -Olson Hall

-Wellman Hall -Giedt Hall

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Solution: Outdoor CompostThere are several steps to acquiring outdoor compost:

1. Get compost bins- specialized bins cost roughly

$4000 per bin

2. Compensate custodial services for incorporating

compost pickup-additional ½ hour of labor per

day

3. Provide compostable trash liners

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability is

striving towards more efficient trips for trash and

compost pickup in order to achieve zero waste by 2020.

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Costs Overview

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On Next Slide

Cost PlansPlan 1: Indoor Only for 1 Location (Shields Library)Price: $83 (cost of 5 bins) + $250 (A-frame material) + $1196/year ($115/week of custodial labor) + $1800/year (compostable liners at $70.66/case of 125 liners)Total approximate Price: $3329/yearPlan 2: Outdoor Only for 1 LocationPrice: $4000 (per bin) + $250 (A-frame material) + $1196/year (custodial labor for compost pickup at $115/week) + $375/year (compostable liners at $70.66/case of 125 liners)Total approximate Price: $5821

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To Break This Down...● We need funding for the fixed costs (One-time

payment costs) and some yearly costs

● What this means for you:

○ Indoor compost bins in the library

○ One permanent mechanized compost bin

○ Compostable liners

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Current Leads: Peter J Shields LibraryPlace compost bins next to trash and recycling bins in high traffic areas:

-Reading Room (2) -24 hour room

-Entrance -Basement

● Custodial services would need to incorporate compost in pickup twice a day (extra ½

work hour/day)

● Library would need to provide compostable trash liners (2 cases/month)

● “Admin personnel would absolutely be on-board with your proposal if there is no to

little cost to us” - Alain Javier, Department Safety Coordinator of Shields Library

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Trial Run: Compost Bins in Shields Library for One Month1 month long trial run in the library:

● 5 compost bins (entrance, reading room (2), basement, 24

hour room)=$83

● Liners for the month (2 packages of liners=$150)

● Custodial services (½ labor hour extra per day for

pickup=$115/week*4=$460)

TOTAL: $693

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1. Contact “The Green Initiative Fund”

2. Contact “The Office of Environmental

Stewardship and Sustainability” for

collaboration

3. Implement signage

4. Conduct library waste audits

5. Scale up our project!

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What Your Help Can AccomplishOn a Campus Scale

➢ Facilitate environmentally sustainable habits among students & faculty

➢ Create awareness of where one's waste goes

➢ Help UC Davis reach its zero waste initiative by 2020

On a Broader Scale

➢ Decrease the Food Waste Iceberg

➢ Turn food waste into fertile soil

➢ Contribute to a more sustainable future

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“The organic gardener does not think of throwing away the garbage. She

knows that she needs the garbage. She is capable of transforming the

garbage into compost, so that the compost can turn into lettuce, cucumber,

radishes, and flowers again...With the energy of mindfulness, you can look

into the garbage and say: I am not afraid. I am capable of transforming the

garbage back into love.”

--Thich Nhat Hanh

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