OVERVIEW: We researched how compost could be integrated within the ITP environment, as well as what could be done on a university-wide level. Our main goal was to find ways to show students how much of our activities and consumables could be composted. We started by looking at the types of compost methods available - indoor (vermicomposting) and outdoor. We contacted the NYU Gardener, NYU Recycling, and Green Arch to discuss current efforts here at NYU. Outside of NYU, we spoke with the Lower East Side Ecology Center and looked at models being implemented at other universities.
What we were able to start:
- Purchase & placement of small green bins to collect compost on ITP floor
- Introduce student volunteer system of taking compost to Lower East Side Ecology's booth at the Union Square Green Market on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat
- Hosted a compostables themed Social Hour - served breads with jams & peanut butter, organic apples, organic pears and hot apple cider
- Our goal with this was to remind folks to eat healthy in the midst of finals, and to let students know about the compost bins on floor. Feedback from Eric: put signs on regular trash bins to remind folks they don't need to trash everything - if it's recyclable/compostable, add a little last minute reminder so they can place it in the appropriate bin
- Highlighted compostable items in the floor's Menus book
- Built a list of possible ideas for compost encouraging activities
- Body of research on composting, NYU efforts, composting in NYC, relevant contacts (just dig around this wiki, or contact us if you have questions)
- Pollie & Angela
consolidated
LOGISTICS OF COMPOSTING @ ITP & NYU
Bin to collect organic wastes on floor
- Researching how Oregon school implemented it with charcoal in bins to reduce smell factor
Encouraging ITPers to separate their food wastes
- How to inform people what's compostable & what's not
- Need some creative slant to get folks into it - how to speak "green" to the "nerds"? Example of an inspiring visualization with the Biowall project http://livebuilding.queensu.ca/mechanical/biowall/
- How to deal with non-organic shtuffs in the bins? Who's responsible for checking on this?
Composting small scale on floor & contributing to NYU compost bins
- Setup a small indoor compost (Is this a good idea? We have crazy temperature fluctuations around the floor, so this needs to be taken into consideration)
- Feed the main NYU compost bins
- Meet/talk with NYU Recycling Dept. for possible inclusion for collection
Ideas for tying in with ITPlant project
- Use compost to startup personal wheatgrass plants (grow in used coffee cups?)
- Looking into resources & costs of wheatgrass seeds, juicer
- When ITPlants get hungry, feed 'em compost or compost tea! Have a how-to during Sustainable Drive-by
Pollie & Angela will contact/meet with George Reis, NYU Gardener, to get his input and help with laying out a proposal for on campus composting.
Meetings
- Meeting with George Reis, Oct.18 - Notes
- Meeting with Jeremy Friedman, Oct. 25
Research
Contacts//
Contacted these people regarding indoor onsite composting.//
North Carolina//
- Brian Rosa, Organic Recycling Specialist
Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
Department of Environment and Natural Resources//
(919) 715-6524//
brian.rosa@ ncmail.net
- Rhonda Sherman, Extension Solid Waste Specialist
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
NCSU //
(919) 515-6770 //
E-mail: rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edu
UPDATE 10/26/06
This page is getting a little messy, but will reorganize in the coming week.
Pollie, Alice and Angela met with Jeremy Friedman, Gallatin student/co-Founder of Green Arch/NYU Recycling Dept. employee yesterday evening, prior to the Green Arch meeting.
ON RECYCLING
Paper makes up the largest amount of material collected, at about 2000 tons, while cans and bottles make up 100 tons. Pickups are handled by All American Hauling, which is taken to various recycling sites in Brooklyn. On a larger scale, New York City has a 20 year contract with Hugo Neu for its pickup.
Alice inquired about pickups of packing materials, since ITP gets so many shipments. They'll pick up at minimum a trashbag full of packing peanuts, and as far as cardboard boxes, we'd have to have a significant bunch to call for a pickup. They reserve some at their facility and "recycle" them by passing them on to offices/depts who are moving and need them. We can easily setup a bin on the floor to collect peanuts. Alice will contact Gloria if we can set this up near her desk, since that's where packages are picked up.
ON COMPOSTING
Jeremy's experimenting on a small scale with a vermicompost bin at the Recycling Center. I asked about fruit flies and he said it's not any worse than they already have, since they're dealing with various beverage containers.
He mentioned a pilot program happening at the Ryker's Island Prison. Apparently, the Korean Deli Association is another group doing a good deal of composting. They were producing so much waste, that costs for trash collection were too high. To cut back, they started composting all their salad bar stuff.
Also recommended checking out Lower East Side Ecology Center.
NEXT STEPS
Discuss with Jeremy or other NYU Recycling Dept. staff possibility of integrating them within plan for on campus compost pickup. Assess if this is best solution, and compare with alternatives. Major setback at the moment is that they're still looking for a manager. Without one in place, no major changes can be implemented just yet...
Potential questions include:
- How often is recycling picked up from each bldg/dept? What amount of staff is required for this? Number of bins per bldg/dept?
- Current costs to maintain recycling on campus?
- Estimated costs to expand staff for collection of compostable waste?
- "Holding" space for collected compost waste prior to transfer to on campus bins? (Question for both Recycling / Garden Shop)
Contact Lower East Side Ecology Center
Contact Washington Square CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). They partner with an organic, family-operated farm in Norwich, NY, which does weekly dropoffs of fresh produce, meat and dairy products. Inquire if the farm would be interested in receiving compost material collected from the school?
Research if compost can be used in green roof environments. Green Arch is exploring green roofs for NYU; if compost does prove viable, then it serves as another benefit worth mentioning.
UPDATE 11/05/06
Pollie has reached out to Rob Archangel regarding their composting experiment.
Hope to set up a meeting soon.
- Maintenance will be an issue:
- Balancing compost bin in beginning seems to be par for the course.
Angela is getting in touch with LESEcology
Tom suggested finding out how much of ITP's waste could be composted.
Proposed to set up compost bins for people to put materials that would be composted. Even though will just get thrown away, two goals:
- To see how much is material we have that can be composted
- To how long it takes to educate floor about what can go in the compost bins and what cannot. This does lose the buy element of being about to provide compost tea or fertilize the Plants.
- NOTE: We don't have to throw it away - I believe we can actually take it down to Union Square/LESEC/various community gardens that are available to accept compostable waste. During our testing and recording phase, I'll deliver it to one of these locations. -Angela
UPDATE 11/08/06
4 Project Elements to Implement over the coming weeks:
- Compost in Action! - By weekend, setup at least 2 bins with covers to collect compostable waste at ITP. Task consists of:
- Purchase green bins so they're easy to identify
- Design signage with clear, easy to read list of what's okay and what's not
- Place bins in lounge
- Get the word out via list & signs around the floor
- Place a basket of fruit nearby to reward composters (this won't last long, but will be interesting to see how and if contributions continue when fruits are gone)
- Record response (list what we find in the bins, measure volume collected)
- Take compostable waste to Greenmarket for LESEC (Available Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat 8am to 5pm)
- Followup with survey to list/small sheets of paper near bins
- Proposal Framework - Take all the data gathered above and begin laying it into a proposal for composting at NYU. Should include case studies, data gathered on student response, incorporating Recycling Dept., etc.
- Wiki or Webpage - After meeting Thursday 11/9 with Jeremy, Alice, Karl and others, decide how to best make the information we've gathered presentable for student use as a resource.
- How to Urban Compost- Do an Instructable on urban composting. Pollie's met with Rob Archangel at NYU Recycling on their indoor vermicompost. Share this resource with ITP.
UPDATE 11/17/06
- Compost Bins @ ITP - Setup of two bins on floor. One small, near the coffeemaker to gather coffee grounds, coffee filters, teabags and anything else compostable. Posted temporary signage. This morning, I stuck a compost sign on the actual small bin as trash had been deposited there. We'll need to be clear about labeling the bins. Pollie's sent an email out to the student list that bins are available on floor.
- Proposal Framework - Met with Marianne briefly, who pointed me to some on campus resources to research funding possibilities to move composting on campus forward. Start with GSO first - talk to Oren Ross (our GSO rep).
- Activities to Promote Compost - Wireframe possible on-floor activities for promoting composting. Examples:
- FruitFest to encourage healthy eating habits in the madness of finals when students have the worst health habits - I'll ask Midori if any social hour slots are left, and we could use those funds to purchase a bunch of fruits again, or organic goodies. Might be a good time to do another Compost announcement to students.
- Another idea is to visualize the amount of compost being collected, possibly using a weight sensor under the bin. On a good day, implement some type of reward? Would be cool to see the volume of compost we're producing as a whole - share this as a screenbased visualization.
- Beauty Day - we all get a bit scruffy looking towards the end of the semester. Don't let your looks go! Schedule a beauty day and have hair/makeup stylists come to the floor and freshen up our looks. Hair is compostable - however, the tie in with promoting compost is a little weak. Not sure if it really gets at the issue here, but still, I would take advantage of something like this, if offered. Our approach was to ask the list if anyone knew stylists who'd be interested in volunteering their services at cheap(er) rates for a sustainable cause.
