2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-15-2025

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Mari Rice

Abstract

Boise State University produces organic waste in the form of food scraps. This is the inevitable result of hosting thousands of people on campus every day, as well as owning many residential halls, multiple buffet style kitchens, and allowing the operations of small food outlets. Additionally, Boise State often supports large sporting events, concerts, lecture opportunities, and more.

The purpose of this research project is to perform an approximate measurement of the organic waste, so that it can be redirected from the landfill and potentially generate energy here on campus. Then, further action and /or an appropriate solution can be recommended. This would see university waste diverted from local landfills, transforming it into an opportunity, benefitting the university in energy generation and waste removal costs.

Waste measurements can be accomplished through established means such as organic waste estimate tools provided by the EPA. Other means such as waste audits and waste characterizations exist, and provide the additional benefits of identifying other items that end up in the waste stream, such as recyclables.

Sustainable energy production can be accomplished through the method of anaerobic digestion (AD), in which organic material is broken down by archaea, generating methane (CH4). This methane can then be burned off for heat or electricity generation.

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