Project Summary:

The Landscape and Outdoor Services Department optimized its large-scale campus composting facility through the strategic acquisition of a BLUELINE GRIZZLY screening system. Processing more than 4,000 cubic yards of organic waste annually—derived from campus dining halls, grounds maintenance trimmings, and organic material collected from the City of Flagstaff—the facility successfully diverts substantial tonnage from local landfills. This infrastructure upgrade modernizes operations by replacing an obsolete, high-maintenance unit that required recurring welding repairs with a durable mechanical separator featuring dual-size filtering decks. By efficiently sifting out oversized debris before the composting cycle, the specialized equipment accelerates organic decomposition timelines and elevates the overall quality and purity of the final soil amendment. Environmentally, the sustained operation of this infrastructure plays a pivotal role in carbon mitigation; processing approximately 175 short tons of organic matter allows the facility to sequester an estimated 23.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. Ultimately, this capital improvement reduces university landfill fees and landscaping overhead while serving as a resilient model for municipal-university waste partnerships.

Project Lead:

James Owen Murphy

Project Advisor:

Matthew Muchna

Date:

2020-05-01

Funding Amount:

$24,330.75

Department:

Landscape and Outdoor Services

Supporting Documents