Colorado State University CASE STUDY

After years of transporting the University's food and landscape waste 50 miles to an off-site composting facility, Colorado State University (CSU) recognized the need for a more sustainable approach. The high transport and disposal expenses prompted them to explore on-site composting. They also wanted compost for on-campus landscaping, and to integrate on site composting with student learning. To address these goals, CSU turned to Green Mountain Technologies (GMT) for a tailored commercial composting solution.

GMT provided CSU with a 30' Earth Flow In-Vessel composting system near the main campus. This Earth Flow composts over a ton of biodegradable material daily, speeding up the decomposition process for food scraps in just 14-21 days. Food waste from dining centers along with manure and bedding from the equine center are easily loaded into the vessel with an automated tote loader. The system has user-friendly controls for compost mixing and moisture management. After the composting process, the finished product cures outside for a few weeks and is used for on-campus landscaping. The Earth Flow system drastically reduces transport and disposal costs, keeps valuable nutrients on campus, and prevents odors and pests while occupying a footprint the size of a single parking space.