Imagine being a carrot. On the lunch tray amongst leftover cauliflower and dill pickles, Dartmouth student X drops you in the garbage can. Your former destiny: the Hanover landfill.
But nevermore! Thanks to the first rumbling of engines in the new Hanover-Dartmouth Composting Facility last Friday, your future is now one of reincarnation. You, along with all other edibles, paper and boxboard products, will be composted into healthy, reusable soil.
People have been chomping at the bit for the realization of this unique collaborative effort between the town of Hanover, Casella Waste Management Systems Inc., and Dartmouth College.
Eight years and $1.5 million since conception of the idea, the two-thirds of our trash that is compostable will be changed from a significant portion of our waste stream into a valuable resource.
Bill Hochstin, Dartmouth Materials Management Coordinator said, "We have taken waste products into a new process system that closes the loop by reintroducing the same organic stream as nutrients for food that will be grown on campus."
For a process that breaks down organic wastes by bacteria, microorganisms and insects into humus, about six months is required.
Connie Leach from Casella Waste Management Systems Inc., said the new composting facility is an "amazing pilot project."
So with all the engines turning and food etc. churning, history will be made, with hopefully 1,600 cubic yards turned into compost at the end of the year.
The Dartmouth Dining Services's 10 tons of trashed food per week, EBAs pizza boxes, Hanover Inn salmon, Jesse's steaks, and Lou's muffins, are among the myriad contributors to the facility's waste input. Wastes with high nitrogen levels (such as food and sludge) are mixed with less-nitrogenous wastes (paper products) and thrown into huge bowels of this living machine.
Inside, the contents are subjected to temperatures of 150 to 170 degrees, and remain there for five days to kill the toxins and pathogens. Then a mere 90 days later, the finished product will be purer than state standards, and sold as healthy soil.
This compost process will reduce the need for fertilizers, save landfill space, reduce impact on the waste water treatment plant, enrich topsoil, and provide a safe soil nutrients.
"I'm really excited, because it gives us some tools to start dealing with issues of nutrient recycling," said Scott Stokoe, manager of the Dartmouth Organic Farm. "At this point when people are looking at those trash barrels in the dorms and dining halls, we want them to realize that someday they might be eating what's inside."
In addition, the heat and carbon dioxide byproducts present limitless possibilities for incorporating the facility's byproducts into other useful forms of fuel.
But will it be nose-offensive? No.
Outside the facility is a biofilter, which uses wood and biological agents to perform much like an inverted leech field, complete with valves to vent when pressures change. Driving towards Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and even standing right outside the walls of the facility, not a scent will linger in the air.
While the bugs in the biofilter are striving for their aromatic control, still crawling around are some bugs to work out in the composting process.
"The problem is getting people to separate their trash," said Environmental Conservation Organization Representative Kirk Klausmeyer '00.
Approaching the two bins which were formerly one garbage can, students will face a choice. To compost, or not to compost, the fate of the carrot will be in their hands.
"Even with the composting facility, organic farm, and collection system all within a three mile radius from the green, our challenge will be helping students, faculty, and Hanover businesses to perceive the greater benefit from their active participation.
"I'm really excited; this could be an excellent example of a community in action," said Environmental Conservation Organization innovator Nicho Dankers '01.
Indeed, this will take the community to prevent contaminating the compost bins with plastic, metal, glass, ceramics, batteries, or hazardous chemicals. By working together, and making conscious decisions at the bins, perhaps things can be sorted out.
