Welcome to the World of Penn State OMPEC
In 1997, a group of concerned students and Penn State employees asked the university "Why not compost cafeteria wastes and use the product in the university's landscaping activities?" Their inquiry reflected the gaining popularity of composting as a waste disposal alternative. This display of interest by the Penn State community, coupled with the increasing need for removal of landscape debris and animal manure, led to the formation of the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC) at the University Park Campus.
CAMPUS WIDE COMPOSTING...
With cooperative effort and active participation from students, staff, and personnel of Housing and Food Services (HFS), the Office of Physical Plant (OPP), and the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS), the project transformed food wastes, landscape debris, and animal manure into compost for use in campus landscaping projects, athletic field maintenance, and agricultural research and demonstration projects. What began as a 10 week demonstration project from one small dining commons is currently handling pre-consumer food waste and napkins from about 70,000 weekly meals in seven dining commons and kitchen prep wastes from two campus hotels and conference centers and campus daycare center.
Publications:
| Project Reports | Articles and Presented Papers |
|
International
Composting Symposium, May 6-8, 2002 Columbus, Ohio |
|
| Composting Operations 01-01 |
Composting
Council of Canada |
| Related Composting Links |
| Agricultural
Analytic Services Laboratory, Compost Testing Program |
| Penn
State College of Agricultural Sciences Backyard Composting |