Group 3 Rebecca Manbeck, Maddie Michaud, Koby Huerta Annotated Bibliography
“Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting.” Sustainable Management of Food, Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Oct. 2019,
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/reducing-impact-wasted-food-feedin g-soil-and-composting. Accessed 02 Nov. 2019.
This is an official website of the United States government and this article is directed towards informing the public about composting and its benefits. A specific author for the material is not provided. However, this site is managed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees environmental research for the nation validating its credibility. Information provided helps beginners by breaking the topic down through the explanation of what composting is, its benefits, and how to start composting. Legal guidelines about composting, for businesses and organizations, are provided to ensure no state or federal laws are violated through the beginning of a composting program. Within the article, success stories of other organizations that have yielded financial gain and reduction of waste are provided which would provide a starting point for our initiative. After reading this article we obtained a better understanding of what measures need to be taken to properly and legally start a program for composting reusable waste at UAF. We now recognize that a composting initiative at the university may take a little effort to get started but will be well worth the benefits in the long run.
“Composting.” Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, 2019, https://www.luc.edu/sustainability/campus/recycling/composting/. Accessed 02 Nov. 2019.
An informative description of a compost initiative currently being successfully utilized at Loyola University in Chicago is supplied by this university website. There is no specific author provided for the page. However, it is overseen by the Facilities Management Program at the university which is an organization that works towards a green initiative for all members on campus. The university intends to notify current and prospective students about their initiative and how they can participate. This information is important because it validates that a
composting program is possible at universities and that it can be effective at reducing waste. It provides procedural ideas on how to collect waste, such as the use of collectible buckets, which we had not previously considered. These measures have been efficient for the university for obtaining waste outside dining facilities. Instruction procedures formulated by the university
justify the significance of proper training for the success of a composting program. We now have more ideas for waste collection aside from dining halls after reviewing this webpage. Formatting our own program will be easier with the knowledge of how an effective program was designed. Observing a successful university compost initiative further motivates us to propose a similar initiative at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Smeenk, Jeff, and Mingchu Zhang. “Composting in Alaska.” Cooperative Extension Service of University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
http://cespubs.uaf.edu/publications/?show=1#2035. Accessed 11 Nov. 2019.
This article was retrieved from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. The first author, Dr. Zhang, is the Professor of Agronomy at the School of Natural Resources and Extension. Dr. Zhang has published numerous articles over his research in
agriculture that have all been peer-reviewed for accuracy. The second author, Jeff Smeenk, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist. These individuals are highly educated about composting ensuring the credibility of their article. Detailed information about composting in Alaska is provided, which could be potentially different from other areas due to the climate. The different types of composting and their processes are extensively broken down for readers. The intention of the document is to educate composters of the science and different mechanisms of
composting. Numerous variable compost recipes that utilize a diverse mixture of ingredients are offered. An in-depth explanation of what type of compost to expect from your waste and how to use it is supplied. The dynamics of different compost containers with a recommendation of which have been best utilized in Alaska are reviewed. Further information about compost pile size, tools required for managing it and specific aspects of moisture content and aeration are discussed. “Composting in Alaska” is an excellent resource for our proposal since composting in Alaska is unique and requires a better understanding of the science behind its creation for it to properly work here. Finding this article was exciting since it is designed specifically for Alaskans interested in composting and thoroughly describes the discipline.
Shantanu, Pai, et al. “Decentralized community composting feasibility analysis for residential food waste: A Chicago case study.” Sustainable Cities and Society, vol. 50, 2019. The ecological and environmental advantages and challenges of composting in smaller communities are examined in this article. A strategy for the beginning of composting in rural Chicago is also suggested. The authors are educators of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois in Chicago. They have published many other scholarly articles relative to ecology and the environment that have been peer-reviewed. Multiple sources for the information provided in the article are supplied in addition to their own scientific study providing evidence that this is a credible source. Their intention is to inform individuals residing in rural
communities about their research and strategy plan for improving participation in local composting. Many urban areas outsource their composting to larger companies that can accommodate a greater city. However, this typically results in the more rural ranges not being able to participate due to geographical restriction. The economic influence of community composting is significant in reducing expenses related to the gathering and treatment of the waste. It also decreases the need for construction of additional landfills since less waste is being deposited into landfills. These factors ultimately aid in the reduction of methane gas emissions that are hazardous to the environment. Several statistics acquired through extensive research are provided to help the reader grasp the financial, economic and environmental benefits of
composting. Knowing this information further encourages us that a composting program at UAF would be advantageous for the university even though it may have its own challenges.
Anderson, Jodie. “Composting in Rural Alaska” BioCycle: The Organic Recycling Authority, vol.52, no.7, The JG Press Inc, 2011, p. 22.
This article reviews compost research that has been conducted with an emphasis on a few composting operations in Alaska. It was published in the magazine BioCycle: The Organic Recycling Authority, which was founded in 1960, and examines composting, recycling and renewable energy. The author, Jodie Anderson, was the Instructor and Director with the Alaska Community Horticulture Program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks when the article was published. She provides sources as evidence of her claims to further validate her credibility. The intention of this document is to inform the general public about large and small scale composting operations, research currently in progress, and what the future holds for composting in Alaska. Many examples of companies and remote villages that have participated in composting are provided along with a description of their execution. This will be useful for a better
understanding of which current composting operations work in Alaska, and how to best approach our proposal for the beginning of a composting program at UAF. The knowledge obtained from the results of the research provided will also give us a better understanding of mechanisms and recipes that have proven to produce valuable compost from waste in Alaska. We were very pleased to find an article that articulated the achievements of other individuals composting in rural Alaska.
“Backyard Conservation Tip Sheet.” Natural Resources Conservation Services. United States Department of Agriculture,
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/features/?&cid=nrcs 143_023537. Accessed 15 Nov. 2019.
This resource is from the official United States government website for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Services. There is no specific author credited
for the publication of the information. However, the site is managed by a governmental agency in charge of the agricultural and natural resource sustainability of our nation. Similar to other sources we have found, it reviews the advantages and basic principles of composting.
Individually numbered steps are provided for getting started in composting along with instructions on how to use the processed compost. Common problems encountered when attempting to compost are examined and solutions are provided to help avoid a failed attempt. Restrictions over what to include in a compost pile to avoid contamination and diseases that could later be spread through the application of the finished compost are included. This article is very useful for determining what types of waste should be allowed to be collected and added to our proposed pile. Thorough incite on how to get our program up and running safely and effectively is provided. The information supplied is a valuable addition to our proposal since it further validates the rewards of composting and how to appropriately organize a composting initiative.
Waliczek, Tina, et al. “The Relationship between a Campus Composting Program and
Environmental Attitudes, Environmental Locus of Control, Compost Knowledge, and Compost Attitudes of College Students.” HortTechnology, vol. 26, no. 5, 2016, pp. 592–598., doi:10.21273/horttech03320-16.
This is a paper that discusses the results of a study on college students in relation to composting. They were looking to see if students that attended universities that had composting programs had a better knowledge of composting and what type of attitude they had toward the environment. They did find a positive correlation between an increase in environmental
awareness and their university having a composting program. This is a very useful source for our proposal because it shows that having a composting program on campus will not only decrease food waste that ends up in landfills, but will also increase the environmental awareness of the students on the UAF campus. I am not surprised that they found these results. By simply having signs around their campus that promote composting and having an atmosphere that made composting a normal aspect of the dining hall experience, they were able to show students that it's not that difficult to make a significant impact on decreasing the amount of food waste that ends up in the landfill.
Guritz, Rodney. Composting Feasibility Study Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. 2015, http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/Boards/Documents/CompostingFeasibilityStudy.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov. 2019.
This is the results from a study completed by Arctic Data Services for the Fairbanks North Star Borough on the current efforts in Fairbanks to compost waste. It gives a very broad overview of the different types of composting that are occurring in Alaska by Alaska Waste,
various local farms, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They make several suggestions on composting expansion from an individual to an industrial basis in the city. They also provide cost estimates for each type of program. The information in this study is relevant to our proposal because it gives a lot of information about successful composting programs that are occurring in Fairbanks. In addition, the section talking about the University of Alaska Fairbanks composting effort explicitly states that the university would like to expand their efforts and compost on a larger scale. This shows that there is already a need for our project on campus.
Sweeney, Scott. “Industrial Composting: What It Is and How It Works.” UrthPact, 25 May 2018, https://www.urthpact.com/industrial-composting-what-it-is-and-how-it-works/. Accessed 15 Nov. 2019.
This website is run by UrthPact, a company that makes compostable plastics. The information is mainly intended for individuals that want to start a large-scale composting effort. This particular news report by them has detailed information about the different types of
industrial-size composting. These include windrows, in-vessel, and aerated static pile
composting. Windrow involves putting the compostable material is rows in an open area, then turning the piles using specialized machines. In-vessel composting is done in an enclosed environment and takes up less room than windrow composting does; though it is a longer process.The last type is aerated static piles. These types of piles are made of loosely layered organic material so air can pass through. They are normally built over pipes that introduce more air into the system. This source is relevant to our proposal because it gives us an idea of what different types of industrial size composting methods are commonly used.
Xie, Xin-Yu, et al. “A Novel Method for Contributing to Composting Start-up at Low Temperature by Inoculating Cold-Adapted Microbial Consortium.” Bioresource Technology, vol. 238, 2017, pp. 39–47., doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.04.036.
This research paper talks about how bacteria might be able to be used to jump-start the composting process at lower temperatures. Their research looked at a mix of the bacteria, Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas simiae, Clostridium vincentii, Pseudomonas jessenii, and Iodobacter fluviatilis that they just simply referred to as the cold-adapted microbial consortium or the CAMC. They found that when this consortium is added to organic material, the start up time for composting was able to begin at 10°C. This also allowed the piles to get through their start up phase in under 37 hours. They also found that the CAMC increased the degradation rates of the lipids and proteins in the compost pile. This is a relevant paper for our proposal, because it shows there is a way to get this composting project started earlier in the spring. This would just be an example of what we can do to combat the cold when composting on the UAF campus.
Gunders, Dana. Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill . 2012, pp. 1–26, Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill,
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov. 2019. This is a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that is a compilation of information regarding food waste. The main function of this report is to inform people of how much food we actually waste from the farm to the landfill. It gives some very good information about how individuals and corporations can reduce the amount of food they waste so it won’t end up in landfills. In relation to the proposal we are writing, this report has a specific section on composting. In this section they state that food waste in landfills account for 23% of the world’s methane production and only about 3% of food waste is composted. This article mainly gives us a lot of basic information about food waste and the impact it has on the environment when not disposed of properly. I see this article as being credible due to the information being reviewed by many different individuals from various agencies including the EPA.
Li, Amy. “New Life for Harvard's Compost.” Sustainability at Harvard, 1 May 2018, https://green.harvard.edu/news/new-life-harvards-compost. Accessed 15 Nov. 2019. This article is about the efforts by Harvard to compost their food waste. Unlike the other college campus composting efforts, Harvard is not composting to create nutrient rich soils, but instead is shipping their food waste off to a plant in Massachusetts that can convert it to energy. This energy is used to power the wastewater treatment plants in the area. This is a relevant source for our proposal because it is not just another example of a university having a successful composting/food waste removal service. It also shows that the compostable material doesn’t have to just be converted into organic material. If the University of Alaska Fairbanks was able to find a way to convert their food waste into energy, then they will have found a way to reduce their food waste, thus reducing the methane that is coming out of landfills, while also using biogas that will decrease the amount of harmful pollutants that are released into the atmosphere.
