GREEN TEAM

Composting Innovations for

Our Future
Table of Contents iii

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................iii

Executive Summary..........................................................................................................v

Introduction.......................................................................................................................1

Problem.............................................................................................................................1

Solution..........................................................................................................................1-5

Qualifications....................................................................................................................6

Budget...............................................................................................................................6

Conclusion........................................................................................................................7
Executive Summary v

Executive Summary

As global warming becomes an ever growing concern, there becomes an increasing need to
create and implement solutions. It is imperative that everyone takes action in this worldwide
environmental struggle. The University of North Texas is already aware of that need and has
placed recycling bins throughout campus, among other enterprises. However, it is important
that UNT doesn’t limit its recycling to just paper and plastic when the school is responsible
for such a large carbon footprint. By broadening the scope of recycling, UNT can make a
much larger difference. In the University of North Texas cafeterias, students generate at
least one pound of waste per person for each meal (Campus Sustainability Assessment). As
with most universities, UNT’s organic waste is second only to paper waste leaving the
university. This establishes a challenge for many universities as they struggle with its
management and disposal. UNT’s current system of removing these wastes by sending them
through kitchen garbage disposals is energy and water inefficient. The system is also reliant
on the City of Denton Wastewater Reclamation Plant and adds to the water costs of the
university.

The University of North Texas can help do their part by implementing a plan to compost all
of its organic food waste. Food waste composting is an increasingly popular way to
minimize the amount of material being sent to the landfills. Universities, correctional
facilities, businesses, and communities are getting more involved in small and large-scale
composting projects. Team Green has researched and developed an energy sustainable
method of recycling for the University of North Texas’ food waste that would, in effect, put
UNT at the forefront of the recycling community. Green Team has developed a proven
system that is convenient and cost efficient. Green Team’s system “Club Green” allows
students and faculty to get more involved in the worldwide green movement where they do
their part to protect the environment. Club Green is simple and functional with long lasting
benefits.

A food waste composting process will save the university money in food waste pick up fees
each year and divert over a five hundred tons of food waste from the landfill. One of the
biggest benefits of Club Green is its ability to sustain itself. The University of North Texas
can potentially produce a large amount of usable compost which can be sold to any number
of companies. The revenue can be used maintain Club Green, while any profits can be used
to support recycling projects throughout the local community.
Introduction 1

Introduction
Composting is a natural process of decomposition in which organic waste is made into a
usable product. Food waste is an increasingly common ingredient in large-scale composting
systems at universities and other facilities. The University of North Texas is can limit their
environmental impact by converting food waste into usable compost.

Green Team’s proposal reviews the requirements for composting, discusses regulation
issues, specific composting methods and provides information for the implementation of a
food waste composting project at the University of North Texas. With a special section that
briefly discusses the savings and costs of the recommended composting project at UNT.

Problem
Several tons of waste is produced at the University of North Texas every day. Of this waste,
approximately two tons is organic waste that could be composted by UNT instead of hauled
away in a waste disposal system that leaves the university paying by the ton.

Additionally, in 2008 UNT’s President Gretchen Batalle became one of 674 administrators
to sign the American College and University President’ Climate Commitment, founded
because of the growing need for public awareness and a strategic plan for reducing the
ecological footprint of the higher education community. The commitment contains seven
promises that participating schools will fulfill and inclusion of an organic waste composting
system would work towards three of these commitments.

In order for the University of North Texas to create interest for future students they must
work hard to distinguish themselves from other schools. Environmental sustainability is one
of the ways they plan to take our campus into the future. Although our recycling program
performs above the national average, recycling is not the most sustainable method of organic
waste disposal. Also, we are currently striving for a LEED Gold Certification for our new
stadium. Certification level is awarded through credits earned and we are still short of
achieving our goal.

Solution
How Can Composting Reduce Waste Disposal Costs and Save Money?

An organic composting system could alleviate up to half of the food-waste produced on

campus and almost all of the paper waste. This is waste that the university already pays to
have shipped off and currently ends up either in the landfill or recycled. Although recycling
is the preferable choice among these two options, there is a more sustainable and possibly
less expensive way to deal with the problem. As landfills get full, the space gets more
expensive to use. A composting system on the other hand produces a product that can be
2 Green Team

removed from the space in about 100 days and therefore does not face the same kind of
space dilemma.

Additionally, the organic compost that is produced can used to improve the consistency and
appearance of our athletic fields and campus green spaces. Studies from the University of
Ohio, a school of roughly the same size that implemented the program two years ago, show
that the chemical make-up resulting from composting paper and food products was similar
to that of commercial fertilizer. This fertilizer would be produced by UNT and we would no
longer have to buy the same product commercially.

How Can Composting Help UNT Meet the Presidents Climate Commitment?

Based on the results from similar systems already established we will be able to divert up to
30% of the Denton campus’ current landfill waste. This diversion will result in a reduction
of greenhouse gases of approximately 1,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. This
Solution 3

is nearly the same amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the energy
consumption of around 130 homes in an entire year.

How Does Organic Composting Distinguish UNT from other Universities?

An organic composting system would show our commitment to continued growth and
innovation. It would be exclusive to UNT among Texas schools and one of very few in the
Southern United States. Further committing ourselves to environmental sustainability would
lead to world-wide interest, increasing the name recognition of our school and the value of a
UNT degree.

In the words of President Batalle “If you look at America's great universities, you'll see that
they all have the three A's in common: great academics, great arts and great athletics. All are
key parts to a vibrant alumni community and continued growth. And all require great
facilities. I am committed to ensuring that UNT, like many of the nation's best research
universities, strives to be excellent in everything we do."

How Can Composting Help Achieve LEED Certification?

Based on the current USGBC standards for LEED Certification (LEED-NC v2.2),
incorporating an organic composting system would earn UNT up to 17 of the 31 credits need
to achieve a Gold level certification we are hoping to be awarded for the new Mean Green
Stadium Complex.
4 Green Team

The applicable points are as follows:

Category Credits Earned

Credit 1.1: Water Efficient
Landscaping: Utilizing
mulch and composting to
Water Efficiency conserve moisture and 1
prevent evaporation of
water from soil; Using
organic fertilizers
Credit 3.1: Water Use
Reduction, 20% Reduction:
Use of organic fertilizer 1
leads to a reduction of water
used in irrigation.
Credit 3.2: Water Use
Reduction, 20% Reduction:
Use of organic fertilizer 1
leads to a reduction of water
used in irrigation.
Credit 2: Onsite-Renewable
Energy: Bio-gas produced
Energy & Atmosphere 1-3
in the composting process is
renewable and sustainable
Credit 1.1: Innovating
processes are awarded
Innovation & Design
points based on the level of 1-5
Process
unique qualities in both
design and implementation.
Credit 2: LEED Accredited
Professional: A project is
given credit if they have at
1
least one LEED Accredited
Professional working on the
project

How Do We Collect the Compost?

The process of collecting waste would begin in the food

preparation areas on campus. Pre- and Post- consumer
waste would be collected in the 64-gallon trash bins with
wheels that are the same as those currently used for trash
and recycling and therefore compatible with the automatic
lift already in use in these buildings. Once the bins are loaded with food waste, they will be
rolled out to the loading dock.
Solution 5

In our dining halls, post-consumer food waste will be collected by dining services
employees when they wash the dishes. Students will continue to place their trays and waste
onto the belts as they have always done. In order to help students and staff with the sorting
process, we can created a number of different educational posters which will be displayed
around campus and above the bins where waste is sorted.

What Equipment Do We Need?

There are several commercially produced systems that would be able to handle the organic
waste load of UNT. An example of one such system is the 2 ton in-vessel composting
system produced by Wright Environmental Management, Inc. A system like this costs
around $355 thousand to install, including the equipment and applicable labor. Additional
costs would include training food-service and maintenance employees about the system and
purchasing collection bins to place in various locations around campus, mostly around
cafeterias but also including places where paper use is high such as the computer labs and
libraries.

How Will it be Funded?

Although some funding could come from the UNT Green Fund additional funding could be
raised through government grants and the U.S. Reinvestment and Recovery Act passed by
Congress. Once implemented, Club Green can use revenue created by the sale of its usable
compost.
6 Green Team

Qualifications
Christopher Havis, Environmental Engineer, will supervise the project and will provide the
necessary input and data for Club Green at the University of North Texas. Mr. Havis served
as a supervisor at previous composting sites in the North Texas area. His experience
includes conduct sampling, dispatching essential materials and compost products, and
principles of environmental sustainability. Mr. Havis is also associated with the American
Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE).

Tiffany Ondracek, Waste Management, will provide the waste management procedures to
ensure that the treating of compost does not cause harm to the environment or harm to
human health. Ms. Ondracek has served on the board of Waste Management Inc. since
January 2008 and has 10 years’ experience of the collection, storage, and disposal of waste
products.

Melissa McGregor, Project Planner, will determine the timeframe, materials, and financial
costs of Club Green. Ms. McGregor served as a project planner for several compost sites at
the University of Texas and knows the requirements for making support plans, identifying
deliverables, and setting measurable objectives.

Rickey Glancey, Project Accountant, will receive costs from the project planner and make
suitable adjustments to costs for Club Green. Mr. Glancey has experience in locating the
most cost efficient products and labor for the project. His experience has helped other
universities (Texas Tech, University of Texas) save over $1,000.00 for previous projects.
He has a Masters degree in financial mathematics.

Budget
Conclusion 7

Items Cost Estimate in dollars Total

Environmental Engineer 15 hours @ $125.00 per hour $1,875.00

Project Planner 15 hours @ $130.00 per hour $1,950.00

Waste Management Supervisor 10 hours @ $75.00 per hour $750.00

Project Accountant 5 hours @ $70.00 per hour $350.00

Concrete slab for vessel (80'x20') 1 @ $10,150.00 $10,150.00

Composter (with shipment and installation) 1 @ $300,000.00 $300,000.00

64 gallon trash bins 20 @ $88.20 $1,764.00

Labor 25 hours @ 35.00 per hour $875.00

Tax percentage 6.90%

Estimated Project Total $339,636.27

Conclusion
Global warming is a problem that can no longer be simply ignored. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces 1,600 lbs. of trash each
year. Measures need to be put in place now to halt the unbridled consumption that will soon
have severe consequences. As a learning institution, the University of North Texas has
recognized that they have a responsibility to future generations to set an example and to
teach its students environmental responsibility. Composting is a solution with short and long
term benefits. As UNT prepares their students for the future; why not help ensure that
future? Team Green has the resources and the passion to help UNT build a sustainable future
they can pass on and a legacy they can share.