Posts filed under 'Waste Reduction'
Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on Sustainability – Spring, 2009
Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on Sustainability Spring, 2009
Task Force Membership: Eric Algoe, Laurie Anderson (Chair), Julia Brooker, Gene Castelli, Karen Crosman, Amy Downing, Jann Ichida, Steve Ishmael, Jim Krehbiel, John Krygier, Kim Lance, Bart Martin, Sara Nienaber, Jim Peoples, Carol Poling, David Robbins, Chris Setzer, Shari Stone-Mediatore, Jack Stenger, Chuck Stinemetz, Paula Travis, Barb Wiehe, Tom Wolber.
Charge: The President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability is charged with developing recommendations that will lead to a culture of sustainability on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus. Specifically, the task force will examine the President’s Climate Initiative and develop a roadmap for fulfilling commitments made in the initiative and recommend a timeline for specific actions Ohio Wesleyan University can take to become more environmentally friendly. The task force will present its recommendations to the president prior to the end of the spring semester, 2009.
We the Committee propose that before President Jones signs the Climate Commitment, we have a period of public comment to assess the reaction of the broader community. Laurie Anderson and President Rock Jones will communicate information about the Climate Commitment in Faculty Meeting on September 14, 2009 as a starting point for discussion. We anticipate discussion at a second faculty meeting later in the Fall 2009 semester.
Please contact Laurie Anderson or any committee member with e-mail comments.
Task Force Recommendations: PDF file download here.
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment: Commitment and Web Pages
Note: information posted below and in the categories (to the right) are NOT part of the Task Force Recommendation. Information below concerns various projects and information about Green activities on campus.
Add comment September 9, 2009
Food Waste Reduction @ OWU
Potential for Food Waste Recovery & Composting at OWU
Food waste reduction, recovery, and composting fits into the Waste Minimization category of the President’s Climate Commitment. Given efforts already underway by Chartwells on campus, the existence of grant money to fund composting, and the potential for medium and long-term cost savings for the university, a focus on Food Waste seems to be a viable immediate action activity.
Basic Facts:
- food waste is the least recovered of waste in the US
- Youngstown State University study: food waste as 35% of university waste
- Food waste is heavy (3 cu yards = 1 ton) thus expensive to dispose of
- Composters need food waste mixed with paper, yard waste, untreated wood (thus food waste is part of a larger group of compostable materials that the campus produces)
Food Waste Strategy:
Simplify waste stream:
- Plastic and glass and some paper to recycle
- Redirect viable food for people, animals, industrial uses
- Remaining food waste, yard waste, and paper to composter
- Non-recyclable material to landfill
Challenges:
- lack of composting facilities (changing)
- low Ohio disposal fees, thus cheaper to dump than to compost
- cost of self-composting (but grants available)
Current Food Waste Reduction at OWU
- Project Trim Trax: Tracking and reducing production and leftover waste at Smith POD
- Project Clean Plate: Tracking edible waste from students in an attempt to lower waste and food cost
- Weekly food donations to Common Grounds Ministry
- STEP: Renewable Packaging for a sustainable future.
- recycle fryer oil
See overview of issues at the MORPC meeting (notes here)
Coordinate with enhanced recycling program (Buildings & Grounds involvement)
Model 1: On campus composting (like Youngstown State)
- Plan & map to recover and deliver usable food waste (viable campus food waste is picked up; find out who does this; further sources of viable food waste on campus, expand to near-campus sources, collaborate with Kroger?)
- Map of sources of campus food waste, yard waste, wood, paper w/approximate amounts
- Grants to pay for part or all of composter (see Youngstown State University composting program using EarthTub composter)
- Save cost of hauling food waste and yard waste (need estimate of these costs from Buildings & Grounds and Chartwells; where does food and yard waste currently go? Composter or landfill?)
- Use compost & mulch on campus for landscaping
- Sources for Biodiesel project
- Save on purchase of mulch, fertilizer (need estimate of these costs from Buildings & Grounds)
- Use compost and mulch for rain gardens (rainwater harvesting project)
- Work to replace non-compostables with compostables on campus (cutlery, cups, plates, etc.)
- Develop plan which is cost neutral
Model 2: Off-campus composting
- Plan & map to recover and deliver usable food waste (viable campus food waste is picked up; find out who does this; further sources of viable food waste on campus, expand to near-campus sources, collaborate with Kroger?)
- Map of sources of campus food waste, yard waste, wood, paper w/approximate amounts
- Details on two composting facilities in Delaware County
- Use compost & mulch on campus for landscaping
- Sources for Biodiesel project
- Use compost and mulch for rain gardens (rainwater harvesting project)
- Work to replace non-compostables with compostables on campus (cutlery, cups, plates, etc.)
- Develop plan which is cost neutral
1 comment March 1, 2009
Rainwater Recovery & Rain Gardens @ OWU
Rainwater Recovery and Rain Gardens at OWU
Rainwater recovery fits into the Waste Minimization category of the President’s Climate Commitment. Rain gardens could be implemented at OWU to consume recovered rainwater. Recovered rainwater could also be used to provide water for other plants on campus, reducing water usage. Grants to develop rain gardens exist. Students and faculty interested in plants (community gardens, botany, etc.) may be enlisted to develop raingardens. Rainwater recovery and rain gardens could be a viable immediate action activity.
Rainwater Recovery
Rainwater recovery involves the automatic collection of rainwater during every rain through systems known as rainwater harvesting. The system utilizes water from runoff points such as roof gutters and ultimately diverts this water into a storage system such as a cistern. The water may also be diverted to rain gardens. Recovered water will primarily be used for non-potable purposes. Landscape watering is a good use of harvested water. A collection surface of just 2000 sq. ft. in our climate could bring in a supply of over 28,000 gallons in a year.
The basic components of a fully functioning rainwater harvesting system are:
- Collection Surface (Roof surfaces)
- Initial conveyance (Gutters and Downspouts)
- Roof washer (first level of filtration in a full system and the primary level of filtration in a partial system)
- Holding tanks (Cisterns- above or below ground)
- Distribution and Fixtures (Pumps, Pipes, Standard plumbing fixtures)
Legal Issues: In order to carry this project out there are some legal issues that could need to be addressed. Ohio has some fairly stringent laws pertaining to water collection. Some of the laws are about things that are seemingly trivial and ones that we might easily overlook. The size of the storage unit, for example can be an issue. Ohio has size restrictions on cisterns, so this and other legal matters will need to be looked into comprehensively.
Aesthetic Issues: The aesthetics of a rainwater harvesting system should also be taken into consideration. There are many elements in the system that could be potential eyesores or worse. If a large cistern is being used it needs to be setup so it doesn’t obstruct anything. This is why underground cisterns are also a good option. However there are various drawbacks with them such as expense, the chance of destroying underground cables, pipes etc. More capital will be needed since there will also need to be a more efficient system of getting water from the underground cistern to the final destination above ground.
Current Geography 355 Project: Map storm water runoff as it exists on campus (roof and pavement) and identify potential sources of rainwater recovery on campus. Document characteristics of the source (roof type, access to water, potential uses, water quality issues). Goal: Campus water harvesting potential map.
Summary from Manav Menon (manav712@gmail.com)
Rain Gardens
A rain garden is a planted depression that is designed to allow rainwater runoff the opportunity to be absorbed from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, and compacted lawn areas. This reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground (as opposed to flowing into storm drains and surface waters which causes erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater). Rain gardens can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching creeks and streams by up to 30%. (source)
Rain garden types:
Funding: Grants for Rain Gardens are available from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund. Two of the General Grants Awarded in 2008:
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, Central Ohio Rain Gardens, F09G-017, $49,742, Franklin County, OEEF Priority: Community Issues, Audience: General Public, Contact: Stephanie Suter, ssuter@franklinswcd.org, 614-486-9613. Provide a series of educational workshops, brochures, a website, and demonstration projects to show residents how rain gardens can collect storm water runoff from downspouts, driveways and sidewalks to reduce flooding and prevent storm water pollution of waterways. Volunteers will monitor storm water run off before and after rain garden installation to look for changes in both water quantity and quality. Collaborators include the Cities of Columbus and Westerville, Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and Sierra Club Central Ohio Group.
Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District, Partnering to Protect Water Resources: A Rain Garden Demonstration and Education Project, F09G-018, $50,000, Clermont County, OEEF Priorities: Community Issues and Standards Based Education, Audience: Pre-Kindergarten – University, Contact: Paul Berringer, paul.berringer@oh.nacdnet.net, 513-732-7075. Provides demonstration rain gardens on the campuses of each of the nine local school districts within Clermont County, plus the Grant Career Center in Bethel. An accompanying classroom and field study curriculum will help teachers explain the installations and environmental benefits of rain gardens and rain barrels. A rain garden workshop for the general public will be held in conjunction with the installation of one of the rain gardens, and will be filmed by the Clermont County Today cable television program. A printed guide and local Web page will instruct residents on how to create and register their own rain garden to help with storm water management. Collaborators include the Clermont County Stormwater Management Department, Office of Environmental Quality and Office of Public Information, East Fork Watershed Collaborative, Greenacres Foundation, and Marvin’s Organic Gardens.
Summary from Jann Ichida (jmichida@owu.edu)
1 comment March 1, 2009
Waste Reduction @ OWU
Waste Reduction at OWU
The President’s Climate Commitment asks us to participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste. Details of two waste reduction measures (Food Waste Reduction and Rainwater Harvesting/Rain Gardens) are detailed in other posts. Below find additional waste reduction measures.
RecycleMania
Ohio Wesleyan participates in RecycleMania.
Campus Recycling Program
See summary at Recycling at OWU web page.
Light Bulb Replacement
Jack Stenger: By Feb 20 I will have the statistics on how many light bulbs the school uses in a year, how many can be upgraded, how much energy would that save per year, how much extra money would his cost per year, and how much would it save in a year. The great thing about this project is that it pays for itself via a revolving fund. This will cost extra money, but will eventually pay for itself. Calculate or observe (possible?) how much money the school will save by making the switch. Make a pledge that 50% of the money you save from this project goes back into a sustainability fund to start similar programs.
Limit Bottled Water on Campus
A proposal to limit bottled water on campus has been assembled by Tree House member Valerie Lonneman, Paula Travis and Jack Stenger. Members of Environment & Wildlife Club have already spoken to Laurie Patton, Joan McLean and Roger Ingles about cutting bottled water in their respected programs. All are interested and are making steps to do that.
Paperless Classrooms
Experiment underway to vastly reduce paper use in all of Krygier’s courses this semester. All course materials on the web or blogs, digital “handouts” and digital submissions. Evaluate potential and problems and set up guidelines for other faculty to adopt.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles at OWU
Document and map all campus vehicles and their uses; investigate alternatives (biodiesel, electric, hybrid) and contribute to planning for the future. Mapping vehicle use on campus.
BioDiesel at OWU
Biodiesel is a viable alternative fuel that can be used in a number of applications; the most obvious is as a fuel in a diesel car engine. Biodiesel is made using organic material such as plant oils and animal products mixed with methanol and lye. OWU student Sydney Fitzpatrick (shfitzpa@owu.edu) is researching the procedure and materials needed and generated small amounts of biodiesel with new vegetable oil. The ultimate goal for creating a biodiesel program at Ohio Wesleyan is to use the school’s waste frying oil to create high quality biodiesel. Importance of finding uses of biodiesel on campus. Potential use in campus shuttles (see Public Transport at OWU post).
Silver Recovery on Campus
Jim Krehbel (Fine Arts) will head up silver recovery on campus from sources in fine arts and science programs.
1 comment March 1, 2009
