Team Green Proposal

8/8/2019 Team Green Proposal

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GREEN TEAM

Composting Innovations

for

Our Future


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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


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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 worldwideenvironmental 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 doesnt 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 theUniversity of North Texas cafeterias, students generate at

leastone pound of waste per person for each meal (Campus Sustainability Assessment). As

with most universities, UNTs 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. UNTs current system of removing these wastes bysending them

through kitchen garbage disposals is energy and water inefficient. Thesystem is also reliant

on the City of DentonWastewater Reclamation Plant and adds to thewater 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, putUNT at the forefront of the recycling community. Green Team has developed a proven

system that is convenient and cost efficient. Green Teams 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.


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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 Teams 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 UNTs 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 mustwork 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


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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, showthat 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


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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 andinnovation. 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.


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4 Green Team

The applicable points are as follows:

Category Credits Earned

Water Efficiency

Credit 1.1: Water EfficientLandscaping: Utilizing

mulch and composting toconserve moisture andprevent evaporation ofwater from soil; Usingorganic fertilizers

1

Credit 3.1: Water UseReduction, 20% Reduction:Use of organic fertilizerleads to a reduction of waterused in irrigation.

1

Credit 3.2: Water Use

Reduction, 20% Reduction:Use of organic fertilizerleads to a reduction of waterused in irrigation.

1

Energy & Atmosphere

Credit 2: Onsite-RenewableEnergy: Bio-gas producedin the composting process isrenewable and sustainable

1-3

Innovation & DesignProcess

Credit 1.1: Innovatingprocesses are awardedpoints based on the level of

unique qualities in bothdesign and implementation.

1-5

Credit 2: LEED AccreditedProfessional: A project isgiven credit if they have atleast one LEED AccreditedProfessional working on theproject

1

How Do We Collect the Compost?

The process of collecting waste would begin in the foodpreparation areas on campus. Pre- and Post- consumerwaste would be collected in the 64-gallon trash bins withwheels that are the same as those currently used for trashand recycling and therefore compatible with the automaticlift already in use in these buildings. Once the binsareloaded with food waste, they will be rolled out to the loading dock.


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Solution 5In our dining halls, post-consumer food waste will be collected by dining servicesemployees when they wash the dishes. Students will continue to place their trays and wasteonto the belts as they have always done. In order to help students and staff with the sortingprocess, we can created a number of different educational posters which will be displayedaround 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.


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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, andprinciples 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 financialcosts 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

Ite

s

ost Esti

ate in dolla

s

otal

Environmental Engineer 1

hours @ $12

.00 per hour $1,8

.00

Project Planner 1 hours @ $1 0.00 per hour $1,9 0.00

Waste M anagement upervisor 10 hours @ $ .00 per hour $ 0.00

Project Accountant

hours @ $

0.00 per hour $

0.00

Concrete slab for vessel (80

x20

) 1 @ $10,1

0.00 $10,1

0.00

Composter (w ith shipment and installation) 1 @ $ 00,000.00 $ 00,000.00

6

gallon trash bins 20 @ $88.20 $1, 6

.00

abor 2 hours @ .00 per hour $8 .00

ax pe centage 6.90

Esti

ated

oject

otal $ 9,6 6.2


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Conclusion 7

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.

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Team Green Proposal

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