Photo By Master Sgt. Jonathon Alderman | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Short from the Vermont Air National Guard's...... read more read more
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SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - Nearly 300 pounds of food scraps that once made their way to Vermont landfills are now turned into safe greywater, like that of typical by-product from baths and washing machines.
The Vermont Air National Guard base, already known for its environmentally-conscience measures for hosting one of the state’s largest solar arrays and using ground-source heat pumps, is now taking a step forward in a different direction to reduce its environmental footprint – composting.
The VTANG installed an aerobic biodigestor in July which is used on the weekends when National Guardsmen perform their two-day military duty. During other events when the biodigestor may not be used, Airmen are stepping up to collect leftovers and bring them to the local waste facility.
The machine, about 3 feet by 3 feet large, needed small modifications at the base’s dining facility; its requirements are a 110-power outlet, heated water source, and a regular drain. The civilian kitchen staff had to change its routine, but according to Master Sgt. Brent Farnham, manager of VTANG’s Services Flight, they began to appreciate the machine that can turn 400 pounds of leftovers into greywater in 24 hours.
“What we have now in the clipper is a collection of buckets that are zeroed-out for our scale,” he said. “Food waste goes in, is weighed and recorded, and then tossed into the biodigestor which is like an enormous stomach.”
The machine can do most foods, nearly anything a human can eat, but there are some limitations; bones, large amounts of fats or fibrous parts of plants like pineapple tops can’t be put in the biodigestor and food can’t be cold because it would alter the atmosphere within the machine.
Rotating propellers mix the food waste with water, microbes and woodchip substrates in a warm compartment. The microbes produce enzymes that digest the waste, which becomes safe greywater that goes down the normal drain system. It’s a good environmental investment for large companies where composting is infeasible.
So far there aren’t any downsides that he’s seen.
In fact, Farnham said that the natural enzymes that come out with the greywater may continue to work and even clean kitchen drain pipes that have a tendency to clog.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It's a simple machine, but one with a big impact.”
He thinks more people will look at the biodigestor as a model to follow as cities and states tighten legislation to mandate composting, like Vermont’s Act 148, the universal recycling law. The VTANG could be among the first wave of Guard bases to use the machine as a solution to food waste.
For other events held at the base during the month, full-time Airmen have stepped up to help with composting. Master Sgt. David Wheeler, a vehicle maintenance production controller, has been working hard to promote a culture of recycling and composting during base-wide activities like family day or association picnics.
It’s been time consuming to borrow compost bins from the local waste management center and create signs encouraging people to think before they throw, but he said it’s worth it. There’s going to be an educational phase before people understand how to compost, but he said he sees a base that can move into a more environmentally conscious nature where Airmen can reduce if not eliminate much of the regular waste.
“Everybody on base should be involved with this,” Wheeler said. “It should be a Wing effort that is a good move for the base, but also for our community.”
He said the time is right for the base to commit itself to sustainable waste reuse and reduction, pointing out that the newer generation flooding the ranks is aware about the dangers of crowding landfills and waste mismanagement. He said it’s up to the current senior leadership to continue making bold changes, such as using the biodigestor for which future generations will thank them.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2015 15:22 |
| Story ID: | 181327 |
| Location: | SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT, US |
| Web Views: | 421 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Waste to Water, by SSgt Victoria Greenia, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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