Biodigester saves money, goes green
Stefanie Wang
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News
Saint Mary's is among a number of select colleges in the United States to implement a biodigester on campus. Biodigesters speed-compost organic waste into liquid fertilizer and biogas. In recent years, farms and labs have resorted to biodigesters to dispose of waste. Food will be separated on campus into food and non-food waste. All decomposable waste will be ground on an off-campus site and later speed-composted by a biodigester.
"We'll start sorting the food waste right away," said Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts Shawny Anderson. There is not a big process on campus, the only thing necessary is to separate different kinds of waste. "It's very progressive for any college to be this forward-thinking," she said. "We're happy to be leading the forefront."
According to Project Green Coordinator Theresa Hayes '11, the compost from the biodigester will also be used as a fertilizer in the garden as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. "The new biodigester will be converting our waste from Oliver Hall into biogas," said Hayes. "It's a method that we can use to create useful byproducts by decreasing our waste on campus."
Anderson pointed out this environmental move will "save a lot of money in the long run." The school currently collects all garbage, pays for garbage transportation to a landfill, and then pays landfill fees. "Now, we'll only be paying transportation fees to the grinder," said Anderson. "All the landfill fees are gone and [waste] will be converted to energy." Waste will be sent to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to be composted.
Project Green, Sodexho, the School of Liberal Arts, Buildings and Grounds and the Physical Plant helped conceive the biodigester idea.
The project is currently focused on sorting food and organic waste in food service areas. "We aren't asking residents to keep a little green bin of organic waste in their rooms and deliver it to some certain place near their halls," Anderson said. "We'll do it through Sodexho in the dining hall, the cafe and catering. We hope that all food waste from those sources gets diverted to this more noble use."
Hayes said Project Green's former coordinators have worked hard to make this a reality. She hopes the campus will be receptive to the biodigester and new campus garden. "These are fabulous opportunities for us to learn how we, as a campus community, can make positive changes to our sometimes, wasteful lifestyles and contribute to making our earth a healthier home for us, and future generations," she said.
Hayes encourages anyone who is interested to participate in this ongoing project. Project Green will post updates on their Facebook page.
"My hope for the biodigester and garden is that they will help us to become more environmentally friendly which will hopefully lead us to becoming a zero waste campus," said Hayes. "I also hope that students will take these sustainable methods with them as they go into their other communities and influence others."
"We'll start sorting the food waste right away," said Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts Shawny Anderson. There is not a big process on campus, the only thing necessary is to separate different kinds of waste. "It's very progressive for any college to be this forward-thinking," she said. "We're happy to be leading the forefront."
According to Project Green Coordinator Theresa Hayes '11, the compost from the biodigester will also be used as a fertilizer in the garden as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. "The new biodigester will be converting our waste from Oliver Hall into biogas," said Hayes. "It's a method that we can use to create useful byproducts by decreasing our waste on campus."
Anderson pointed out this environmental move will "save a lot of money in the long run." The school currently collects all garbage, pays for garbage transportation to a landfill, and then pays landfill fees. "Now, we'll only be paying transportation fees to the grinder," said Anderson. "All the landfill fees are gone and [waste] will be converted to energy." Waste will be sent to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to be composted.
Project Green, Sodexho, the School of Liberal Arts, Buildings and Grounds and the Physical Plant helped conceive the biodigester idea.
The project is currently focused on sorting food and organic waste in food service areas. "We aren't asking residents to keep a little green bin of organic waste in their rooms and deliver it to some certain place near their halls," Anderson said. "We'll do it through Sodexho in the dining hall, the cafe and catering. We hope that all food waste from those sources gets diverted to this more noble use."
Hayes said Project Green's former coordinators have worked hard to make this a reality. She hopes the campus will be receptive to the biodigester and new campus garden. "These are fabulous opportunities for us to learn how we, as a campus community, can make positive changes to our sometimes, wasteful lifestyles and contribute to making our earth a healthier home for us, and future generations," she said.
Hayes encourages anyone who is interested to participate in this ongoing project. Project Green will post updates on their Facebook page.
"My hope for the biodigester and garden is that they will help us to become more environmentally friendly which will hopefully lead us to becoming a zero waste campus," said Hayes. "I also hope that students will take these sustainable methods with them as they go into their other communities and influence others."