Short Term Solution
Over the past few weeks team members Jason Morden and Grace Kim have looked extensively into the possible solution of using newspaper as a compost bin liner. Newspaper is fully compostable and would function to keep the composting pails clean. Cleaning the composting pails is an unpleasant task. We believe this will result in more organic waste actually being composted rather than just thrown into the trash.
Used newspaper is abundant on the UBC campus. Presently, this newspaper gets recycled, but instead it could be used for compost bin liners. Although there is a lot of it on campus, some organization and planning is required in order to make it readily available for students living in UBC residences. Jason and Grace investigated the situation in the Gage residence. The paper recycling bins there are mostly filled with newspaper, so we believe that we could employ the use of used newspaper specific bins. People would place their used papers in these bins rather than the paper recycling bins. These bins would have open tops and be placed in the common’s block near the tower entrances so that the papers can be easily picked up for compost use by the students. Newspaper enthused students will already have newspaper in their units and will not need to dip into the used newspaper bin’s stock. Any excess they have they can of course place in the bins for use by the non newspaper reading composters. If this system is employed, we believe that there is enough newspaper use in the Gage residence in order to support a self contained composting system. If this is not the case however, plenty of used newspaper resides in the paper recycling bins of the SUB. This paper could be brought over to the residence if needed.
This brings us to how the newspaper will actually be used. There exists an effective (and admittedly fun) way to fold newspaper so that it fits the compost bins. We have created a friendly video that demonstrates how to fold the newspaper and we are currently working on a way to distribute it to students in rez. We have taken pictures of the process accompanied by written instructions. We have drafted these into a prototype poster that could eventually be placed in the common’s blocks of residences near/above the used newspaper bins.
Biodegradable Clips
It was suggested to him from his client that there might be biodegradable clips available which could fix a paper liner to green bins. Andrew visited the UBC greenhouse to ask about the biodegradable clips used for tomato vines, which could, as suggested by the client, possibly be used to clip the liners onto the bins. After talking to the UBC Botany Greenhouse’s manager, it is found that the greenhouse did not use these clips and the manager suggested to go to the greenhouse on top of the biology building. So Andrew took another stroll to the other greenhouse and came back empty handed as well.
After these unsuccessful procedures, he shifted onto the internet and searched for biodegradable clips online and has successfully found a few suppliers. However, these clips are not design for our purpose and are either too flimsy or the incorrect shape.
Long Term Solution
A solution that cannot be actualized starting in September but requires further development is taking the waste pulp from the UBC Pulp and Paper Centre and remanufacturing it as a simple paper compost liner to be used by students and faculty members in the small composting pails.
George visited the Pulp and Paper Center and was informed that the Pulp and Paper Center outputs approximately 8 tonnes of dried unused pulp per month. This pulp was made directly from wood and is not from recycled paper. This is beneficial because non-recycled paper is of higher quality such that the strength and porosity of the paper are at levels more valuable for use as a compost liner. The team is currently working on the calculations to determine how many liners could be produced from this pulp.
To distribute the paper in a fair manner to ensure that all students have access to the paper, we have designed a prototype liner dispenser that will as the name implies, dispense liners. The dispensers will slice the roll into the individual sheets as they are dispensed. The dimensions are as labeled in figure X. The dispenser can be connected to the UBC Carding system so that each student can be allocated a certain number of liners per month. This will prevent student from using them for alternate purposes or using them so frequently such that UBC cannot sustain the demand (replacing the liner daily). There is also the option of charging a small fee for liner (10 cents).
The plan of actions needed to implement this plan is illustrated in the figure below.
