Project Clearinghouse

Organic Waste Digester

Sustainability Problem and Proposed Solution: 

The digester would replace our typical composting approach, as it would act as a pulverizer for the over 40,000 pounds of food waste that the Colleges Nine and Ten Dining Hall and University Center produces per month. Instead of taking out the food waste in large refuse trucks that average 2.53-6.5mpg and hauling it all the way to Marina, CA

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Project Categories: 
Energy & Climate
Food
Waste & Recycling
Project Status: 
In Progress
Project End Date: 
12/20/2023
(estimated)
Campus Organization: 
Campus Dining
Affiliated Department, Unit or College: 
Dining,
Project Location: 
On campus

Likely the Colleges 9&10 Dining Hall


Stakeholder Contacts: 
Contact NameEmail AddressContact NumberDepartment
Clint Jeffries
cjeffrie@ucsc.edu
8312126557
Dining
Funding Sources: 
Carbon Fund

Project Description: 

the food waste goes down the digester’s drain and is sent to Santa Cruz’s wastewater treatment facility, where the waste will contribute to the facility’s production of biogas. The facility is an award winning operation for sustainable practices and produces 70% of its energy from the biogas it produces on site. Management at the WWTF has assessed that their facility would indeed benefit from more biomass (contact: name, title). Our purpose is to use our massive food waste towards a fossil-free goal, and incorporating these digesters on campus allows our food waste to be converted into a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

Metrics for Success: 

Number of trips saved to Marina. Will need to work with the City of Santa Cruz to see if we are able to obtain data on the waste converting to bioenergy

Result Categories: 
Infrastructure/Built Environment
Behavior Change
Technology
Data Collection & Analysis
Results: 

We will be able to show reduction in trips to Marina with the compactor as well as the ascociated cost savings. Will need to work with the City of Santa Cruz to see if we are able to obtain data on the waste converting to bioenergy