The facility uses an XACT Systems BioReactor, which is a type of digester that offers an accelerated, automated and aerobic composting system. The composter boasts a rotating drum, with an advanced technological monitoring and control system that has the ability to overcome the challenge of sustainable, responsible management of huge volumes of solid, organic waste. Aerobic digestion is a process that involves oxygen, allowing for digestion of the materials without the production of methane gas. Since the drum removes environmental factors that can slow the composting process, it can turn organic material into compost in as little as six days.
The composting facility is designed and operated by the university’s sustainability department, led by Amy Parsons-White. She says the digester will have a large environmental impact.
“The digester will remove approximately 750 tons of waste from going to the landfill and 100 tons of methane production per year,” said Parsons-White. “When accounting for the additional courses and workshops through the university, the workforce development and the potential for the model to be implemented across the state, the positive impacts are enormous.”
The digester has the capacity to compost eight tons of organic waste per day. Organic waste consists of food waste, lawn waste, white office paper and cardboard. In addition, the university’s carbon footprint will be lowered by reducing waste haul to landfills and thousands of dollars will be saved each year in waste haul fees.
The entire composting facility project took four years from start to finish, with Parsons-White working extensively in the beginning of planning stages by collaborating with state legislators to draft bills that would change laws on postconsumer food waste.
“I am so excited to see the compost facility up and running and cannot wait to be able to share the facility with the community,” said Parsons-White. “We hope the Marshall Compost Facility will be the first of many across West Virginia.”
Parsons-White says compost can be a very lucrative way of handling waste, extending the life of landfills and developing a sustainable source of employment in the state.
“Compost is a highly desirable product,” said Parsons-White. “I am thrilled that Marshall University and the state of West Virginia is a leader in bringing this technology to the eastern United States.”
In addition to the digester, the compost facility also houses a worm bin, which contains more than 50,000 red wiggler worms that are capable of composting another three tons of waste each day.
Other offerings from the compost facility, including sought-after worm castings called “Herd Dirt” and compost tea, will soon be available for purchase at some area farmer’s markets.
Parsons-White says the facility has garnered attention of others around the world who want to implement similar composting structures. A few of those who have reached out to her will be in attendance at the ribbon cutting.
“We have people coming from all over the world,” said Parsons-White. “From Tanzania, from Canada and also from throughout the United States, because they want to model their compost facilities off of what we’re doing here. We’ve also been contacted by Duke University, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Arizona State University and McMaster University in Ontario because they want to model their sustainability departments off of us here at Marshall.”
Speakers at the event will include Marshall University President Brad D. Smith, West Virginia Del. Sean Hornbuckle, West Virginia State Sen. Bob Plymale and congressional representatives for U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.
The ribbon cutting is open to the public and will take place at the compost facility, located at 1010 Norway Avenue in Huntington at 2 p.m. At the conclusion of the program, guests may take a tour of the facility. Please note: the facility is an industrial site, so appropriate footwear should be worn.
To learn more about the sustainability department at Marshall, visit www.marshall.edu/sustainability.