Quantifying and Analyzing Organic Waste Generated Within the University Of Milwaukee Wisconsin (UWM) Campus

The “Hoop House” is a pilot composting project, receiving wastes from UWM residence food-services operations. Our purposes were to quantify organic wastes, analyze the quality of compost, estimate the composting capacity, and recommend improvements. In summer 2015, waste collected from Union and Sandburg kitchens was composted and monitored. Samples collected at different stages were analyzed for organic content (drying and ashing), and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content (CN analysis and wet chemistry), using Milorgonite (an organic fertilizer) as a control. Cucumber plants were grown in the compost and assayed using a for fluorescence yield of photosynthesis (Fv:Fm). An audit was done with the waste collected, and the capacity of the Hoop House estimated. Organic waste generated at UWM was estimated at 5725.055 tons yearly. During composting, organic matter content fell from 88 to 68% of dry mass, ending up close to Milorganite at 73%. Nitrogen content of compost increased from about 1 to 3% of dry mass, somewhat lower than Milogranite at 7%, while carbon content fell from 48 to 39%, versus 37% of dry mass for Milorganite. Phosphorus content increased from 0.4 to 1% in compost (0.9% of dry mass for Milorganite). Health of plants cultivated with compost from the Hoop House did not differ among composts or control soil (values ranged from 0.78 to 0.59), but declined over time. This may relate to pH obtained (pH 8.5), which was out of the range of the acceptable pH of soil (4.6 to 8.3). Calculated capacity of the Hoop House is 4.495 tons food waste yearly; just 0.6% of UWM’s production. Thus, composting based on a Hoop House model cannot cope with UWM’s waste production; using an In Vessel Composter could improve capacity to 35% of UWM waste