Creating a Network of Organic Material Processing Sites

Abstract

With a growing global human population and increasingly large amounts of organic waste being generated each year, there are growing concerns on the environmental impact of said waste. These include the filling up of local landfills and, consequently, the generation of an alarming amount of two leading contributors of climate change: carbon dioxide and methane gas; both of which are greenhouse gases (GHGs). To combat this, the organic waste needs to be diverted towards processing sites that make use of anaerobic digesters instead. Recently, the use of anaerobic digestion to not only handle waste but also generate renewable energy has seen promotion in numerous countries, including the United States. The objective of this project was to justify any investment towards creating a network of anaerobic digesters that can replace existing landfills in central Minnesota. This was done by gathering data on solid-waste sources and consumption habits of the community through surveys and virtual interviews. Additionally, outreach was coordinated to inform community members and potential stakeholders about the project goals and organics recycling process.