INTRODUCTION
Background & Design Justifications
BACKGROUND
Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama. One of two flagship schools in the state, Auburn serves over 29,000 students and 1300 faculty members. Many of the students, staff, and faculty at Auburn University frequent the restaurants and dining halls on campus. This service produces thousands of pounds of pre-consumer and post-consumer waste each week. The goal of this feasibility study is to determine the ability of Tiger Dining to implement a pre-consumer waste composting program to accommodate the on-campus dining facilities.
DESIGN JUSTIFICATION
Design specifications were made in order to meet the design objectives while operating within the constraints of the project. Calculations were run in order to size the facility that housed the project, the bins feedstock and compost would be stored in, and the price of completing the project. Ideas that the team brainstormed were not only creative and functional, but technically sound.
DESIGN OBJECTIVES & CONSTRAINTS
Feasibility of an In-Vessel Composting System for Auburn University's Pre-Consumer Food Waste
OBJECTIVES
Design a composting facility and operating procedure to accommodate 1,000lbs of pre-consumer food waste produced at Auburn University daily.​
Formulate a quality compost recipe that meets carbon, nitrogen, and moisture content needs.​
Implement Best Management Practices for storm water runoff that will prevent further contamination of the Parkerson Mill Creek.
CONSTRAINTS
Buffer zones surrounding old test well sites and the City of Auburn's Utility lines.
Prevent further contamination of Parkerson Mill Creek by maintaining a 60 ft buffer and implementing BMPs on site.
Construction costs and annual maintenance costs must be justifiable. A payback period should be established based on dissolving haul away costs into Tiger Dining.