EARTH DAY
Composting program helps campus
Composting it just mokes
sense That's what Univer
stty groundskeepers John
Anthony and Rickie Btrran te8 peo
pte when they talk about the plot
turned professional composting
program they developed three
years ago on campus
It takes mmutes and saves a tot
o( time and money," Anthony sato
"And besides, the ptants like it just
as good and we can use it more
generously.'
This "generosity to the plants" is
actually yard waste collect*.to from
plants and turf around campus that
has been converted into organic
compost and reintroduced to the
soil — thanks to an innovative
composting program that is now m
full motion.
Currently, all leaves, branches,
twigs and other yard debris col
lected on campus that is suitable
tor compost is transported to the
Physical Plant and placed into
piles. Once the piles are large
enough, they are spread into sep
arate berms and "turned" three
times periodically to mechanically
break down materials in the soil
Once the pies are broken down,
they are assessed by Anthony and
Ekrran and moved to a finished pie
where other groundskeepers pck
up the finished compost for use
back on campus
"We used to have to go get this
same material off-site and it was
very expensive and time-consum
ing," Anthony said. “This process
takes minutes and saves a lot of
lime and money because before
this, we had to take all the yard
waste straight to the landfills.”
The entire composting process
for each pie takes between four to
eight months for completion,
depending on thn season, weath
er and how much time Anthony
and Birran can devote to it whom
they aren't oft doing other duties
tor the Physical Plant
Tim King, campus and grounds
supervisor, estimates that by uti
luring the composted yard waste
instead of purchasing the same
material horn olt-campus pro
cessing centers, their composting
program is saving the University
about S/.54& annually
"We haven't had to buy any
thing." King said, "but we do have
to spend time on manual screen
ing But at this point, it wouldn't tv:
economically feasible to purchase
any screening machinery “
Anthony and Birran now have to
remove any debris, large sticks
and other non degradable mater
ial manually from the yard waste
that is brought into the Physical
Plant, yet they both say the fin
ished product is worth the effort
We have a finished product that
we re putting to good use that
makes a great soil amendment
and can be used as a top dress
ing lor (lower tvxjs around campus
everywhere,* Anthony said
"It's a learning time too,* Birran
added “John is teaching me a lot
and we learn as we go It's pretty
rewarding “
The finished composted mate
rial they produce is being utilized
throughout the campus as a pro
plant soil amendment for trees,
shrubs, annuals, perennials
bulbs, as well as topdressing
around (ibrous rooted plants such
as terns and rhododendron
King said he believes the plants
are responding more favorably
than with previously used com
mercial products, which reduces
LANDFILL COSTS
A record of the exist to
processes the yard debris
created by the main campus
area (about 230 arcesi
YEAR ANNUAL COST
- I960 Free
1980-89 $2320
196^93 3916
1993 - 6945
Starting 3/95 6815
Net Annual savings trom
(he Composting Program is
protected at S/545
SOURCf Pnyvfw Piam
i Mi HA
the need tor commercial fertilizers
and improves soil structure and
drainage, enhances root develop
ment. reduces fertilizer leaching
and increases summer drought lot
erance
“It's pretty amazing what we do
with jus! two people doing every
thing." King said "All that we've
done we've figured out on our own,
although Karyn Kaplan has worked
with us and has been a tremen
dous help."
Kaplan, who is the University's
recycling program manager, said
she's more than pleased with the
compost program's success her
sell
“I'm thrilled to pieces with the
progress we've made and it has
kept a lot out ot landtills." she said
"We're even ahead of the game
because yard material is usually
one ot the last items to be recy
clod"
/.(in Betttneski
THE BOOK FAIR
Helping to preserve trees since 1966.
/&> “Browser’s Paradise"
/<§y Natural Cookery • Mystery nAJs.
/<£y Auto Repair Books • Sci-fi
/j&y Used books tor every interest and age
1409 Oak St.
343-3033
Open Won-Thors
10 00-5 30
Fn Fv« unlrl 7 00 *
Sat 10 00-5 00 ■
Recycle
2£ 2®
RIDE YOUR BIKE.
PAUL'S Bicycle Way of Life
SALES - SERVICE - BIKE RENTAL ACCESSORIES . CLOIHING
(UNSOLICITED ADVICE, POUIKAL OPINIONS. EEC.)
J42-6ISS 2480 ALDER SIREEI
344-41 OS IS2 W Sth
M M i»s ui
is s ss* s* y oMi
gARTbage
I Ai it Ml ti r Mj » » t ‘ «.'l i.
The <jARTbage" art show will bo on display through Satur
day. April 22. at V alloy River Con tor
The gARTbage show celebrates the creativity ot artists and
highlights the potential ol recycled materials
The show is an all comers, non juried event It 19 sponsored by
the St Vincent dePaul Society ol Lane County and other local
businesses All ol the art displayed must be made ol at least 90
percent recycled items
Last year's show included more than 100 student, amateur and
professional entries Prize winners participated m the Eugene Cel
ebratton and the Oregon Association ol Recyclers Convention
Winning entries included a (wipier -macho dragon. .1 t*>wl m.i<|e ol
window pane glass, and a large welded sculpture by an Elmira
student
Winners trom this year's show will have the opportunity to dis
play their ad at the St Vincent dePaul Society's Western Region
at Convention this summer
Great
Futons
Unbeata
Prices
k»/t\ M.
ROCK SOFT
FUTON
ON SALE
NOW
• Handmade
Futons
• Covers
• Pillows
• Tables
• Lamps
• Delivery
Available
VENTURA
Full Size Frame
and Futon
s299°°
CALGARY
Unf*o*fih0d fhtWi
Full Sure Frame
s149°°
236-0921
1231 Alder • G8G50G9