Composting Columbia Campus Grounds

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Composting - Columbia Campus Grounds

• The Client Richard Bussert
• The Team
• João Victor Mokdissi - Primary Facilitator
• Mateusz Korotko - Secondary Facilitator
• William Buik - Process Observer
• Robert Greig - Conflict Manager
• Anjani Vedula - Timekeeper

The Advisor Kirubel Teferra
July 26, 2007
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The Problem Statement

• Columbia Universitys Office of Environmental
  Stewardship and Richard Bussert, Columbias
  Manager of Campus Operations, desire to revise
  their current waste management system. Up to this
  moment, Columbia University has been collecting
  its ground wastes and the New York Citys
  Department of Sanitation transports it to
  landfills since it is the most economically
  convenient solution. Also, to maintain lawns and
  fields, a monthly quantity of fertilizer is
  purchased from an outside company. The Office of
  Environmental Stewardship seeks a more
  eco-friendly system in which the grounds waste
  could be used in a more productive manner instead
  of being completely put to waste.

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Suggested Solution
4
Background Research

• Composting is the process of producing compost
  through the decomposition of biodegradable
  organic material.
• Source Composting. Reference.com. 14 July
  2007 http//www.reference.com/search?qcompost
  ing
• The Process
• The Chemistry
• Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Moisture

Source Compost. Stoneworld.com. 23 July
2007 http//www.stoneworld.co.uk/images/products/c
ompost.jpg
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Design Specifications and Constraints

• Compact
• Urban environment
• Require little labor
• Leaves are the primary source of organic waste
• There is a massive influx during fall, but little
  for the rest of the year.
• Large storage (capable of holding all leaf matter
  for one year.)

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The Final Design
SmartComposting The Earth Tub, Storage Bin and
the Leaf Cycler
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The Earth Tub

• The Earth Tub
• Compact
• Diameter 7.5 ft
• Height 5.7 ft
• Labor
• Loading/unloading
• Turn 3 times a week (15 min.)

Source Earth Tub Greenmountaintechnology.com
14 July 2007 http//www.gmt-organic.com/EarthTub/e
t-info.php
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Modified Shredder and Storage Bin
MacKissic Leaf Cycler modified with attached
hopper and output host
Storage Bin (Wright 4 Cubic Yards) 5.9x7x4.58 ft
Source Self Dumping Hoppers.
Solutiondynamics.com http//www.sodyinc.com/index.
php?main_pageproduct_infocPath23products_id52

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The Location

• Morningside Campus Grounds
• 35 acres of land
• 3 acres of lawns
• .75 acres of gardens
• The Grove
• 80 of the area is full

The Grove
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The Grove
In Detail
Dimensions of Area where composting system will
be located 16ft.6in. x 11ft.1in.
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The Budget
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Alternative Solutions

• Original Compost Tumbler
• Three composters would be needed
• Less durability
• Entirely manual
• Does not use electricity

Estimated Total Cost 4555.69
Source Original Compost Tumbler. Amazon.com.
25 July 2007 http//www.amazon.com/Green-Culture-
Original-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B000BWGAB0
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Alternative Solutions

• Partnership with Morningside Park
• Windrow Composting
• In-vessel Composting (HotRot)

Source Static Pile (Windrow) Composting.
American Bio Tech. 15 July 2007
www.abt-compost.com/windrow.html
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The Gantt Chart
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Transition Plans and User Documentation

• Future teams should
• Revise the design
• Comparison with alternative designs
• Update budget
• Present to administration
• Buy and assemble parts
• Install
• Teach gardening staff
• Implement and maintain program

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The End

• Thoughts?
• Questions?
• Contact us columbiawmp_at_gmail.com