The Urban Farm, above, is a place for community members to plant and harvest foods. The new composter will enable the farm to add nutrients to the soil with natural fertilizer. Service Learning Program Coordinator Steve Mital, left, looks over a new composter that will break down old food from the EMU and residence halls and create compost for the Urban Farm. Danielle Hickey | Photo editor Earth Tub will turn food waste into fertile compost A new composting system will reduce the amount of food waste the University leaves in landfills BY ADAM CHERRY NEWS REPORTER The University took another step to ward environmental responsibility on Friday with the addition of a new com posting device intended to decrease the amount of food waste that ends up in the dump. The University’s acquisition of the Earth Hib, a commercial composting system that will allow waste to be processed more easily and quickly than by using conventional methods, ends a year-long quest for University Sustainability Coordinator Steve Mital. “It’s a great opportunity to close a loop,” Mital said. “We have food waste that’s produced on campus. We have an urban garden that needs compost delivered to it frequently. ” In 2003, Mital and a team of stu dents released a report that analyzed the waste produced by EMU Food Ser vices in an Environmental Studies Ser vice Learning Program project. They concluded that an Earth Hib was a good way to reduce the amount of food waste the EMU sent to landfills. Premier Travel • vmarc Specials! • Nov Orleans - $198.00 Mexico Oils - $220.00 I-Vu n kin ri - $374.00 Maui - $422.00 l.l\ ;mvl I-.'.'X IK I IIK'luik'il. Ti--Ilk' toils ‘•'til'kk't to ch.iitfL- w i'll.ml rufliiV ha\e S I l 1)1 N I discounts! r.-inail: lares a lu\2tras el.com 1011 Harlow 1747-0909 i Student Travel Expefts Food waste that enters a landfill does not decompose, according to the report. It decays, releasing carbon dioxide and methane, both of which are greenhouse gasses. Decaying ma terials can seep into water and land, causing further pollution. According to the report, a five-day waste audit in winter 2003 found the EMU generated 9.67 cubic-yards of food waste, 41 percent of which was deemed “potentially compostable.” University Housing will be the pri mary contributor to the composting program. “To get anything going as far as composting is a good thing,” said Tom Driscoll, food services director for Uni versity Housing. The EMU will participate in the pro gram as well. “We don’t generate a lot of wasted food (at the EMU) ” due to food op tions and independent food vendors, said John Costello, food services di rector for the EMU. “We’d certainly be interested in participating as much as we could. The University bought the Earth Tlib for “less than $1” from the Eugene 4J school district, and will spend $1000 $2000 on installation, Mital said. Mital and Anne Donahue, a com post specialist for the City of Eugene, highlighted the benefits of the Earth Tlib over regular composting methods. “It guarantees that you can compost very quickly. (It’s three weeks) from the time that you throw food waste in here to the time that you pull out com post ready to put on your garden, whereas a traditional compost pile can take months,” Mital said. “It’s very low-labor because it has a motor. ” The tub will kill any pathogens in the compost mix within 72 hours, Donahue said. Odor is a concern for customers who compost, but the Earth Tlib is de signed to neutralize any bad smells by using microorganisms to pull any odors out of the air coming off the Earth Tlib, Donahue said. “It’s easy; it’s a nice educational op portunity for people participating in ur ban garden,” Mital said. “It’s a no brainer when it comes right down to it. I’m glad we were able to get it done. ” adamcherry@dailyemerald.com 019324. loorts mm Restaurant and Lounge Authentic Chinese Cuisine Fresh, Quality Ingredients 947 Franklin Blvd. (near UO) • 343-4480 Individual, Family Style, Banquets to 100, Take Out Tues.-Thurs. 11-10:30, Fri. 11-11 Sat. 12-11, Sun. 11:30-10 \iLO USE MSELY® Every Watt Counts! O SHUT OFF computers monitors 00AijisliUtticm < ommiltcu hi c uliur.il diversify. r 021148 What’s new in Music in 2005? Find out in the Oregon Daily Emerald's Trends for 2005 on stands tomorrow.