Welcome to the World of Penn State OMPEC

composting at Penn State

What is OMPEC?
In 1997, a group of concerned students and Penn State employees asked the university "Why not compost cafeteria wastes and use the product in the university's landscaping activities?" Their inquiry reflected the gaining popularity of composting as a waste disposal alternative. This display of interest by the Penn State community, coupled with the increasing need for removal of landscape debris and animal manure, led to the formation of the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC) at the University Park Campus.

 

Penn State compost in use across the campusCAMPUS WIDE COMPOSTING...
With cooperative effort and active participation from students, staff, and personnel of Housing and Food Services (HFS), the Office of Physical Plant (OPP), and the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS), the project transformed food wastes, landscape debris, and animal manure into compost for use in campus landscaping projects, athletic field maintenance, and agricultural research and demonstration projects. What began as a 10 week demonstration project from one small dining commons is currently handling pre-consumer food waste and napkins from about 70,000 weekly meals in seven dining commons and kitchen prep wastes from two campus hotels and conference centers and campus daycare center.

 

Publications:

Project Reports Articles and Presented Papers

Organic Materials Collection
Roll-Off 00-04

International Composting Symposium, May 6-8, 2002 Columbus, Ohio
Herbicide Persistence in Finished Compost Products: A Case Study from Penn State
Composting Operations 01-01

Composting Council of Canada
12th Annual National Conference
September 18-20, 2002
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Alternative Disposal of Organic Residuals and a Means of Fulfilling Needs

Related Composting Links
Agricultural Analytic Services Laboratory,
Compost Testing Program
Penn State College of Agricultural
Sciences Backyard Composting