UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State was recognized by Gov. Mark Schweiker in December for its commitment to pollution prevention and environmental protection demonstrated in a universitywide composting program.

The university submitted one of only 40 projects from across Pennsylvania selected to receive a 2001 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. The composting initiative takes pre-consumer food wastes from seven student dining commons, three hospitality service units and the Bennett Family Center and mixes them with leaves, other organic landscape debris collected on campus and manure from the university's dairy herd.

A joint venture among the College of Agricultural Sciences, Housing and Food Services, Hospitality Services and the Office of Physical Plant, the composting facility is located at a site previously used as a manure storage area. After the materials are mixed, the compost is used in research projects, turf maintenance and landscape projects at University Park.

Over the last four years, the amount of organic materials recovered has increased from 403 pounds per day to 1.6 tons per day. During the 2000-2001 academic year, the composting facility helped Penn State save more than $16,000 in landfill tipping fees. The project is helping the University meet the state's goal of recycling 35 percent of its waste by 2003.

The composting center also enhances the university's teaching, research and educational outreach efforts, providing students and faculty the opportunity to learn about source separation, waste management and commercial and backyard composting.

"The Organic Materials Processing and Education Center at Penn State provides a practical example of how residuals from business, farms and municipalities can be combined to provide a beneficial product," says Robert Graves, professor of agricultural engineering.

"It is a great honor to congratulate the winners of the 2001 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence," says Gov. Schweiker. "These trend-setting businesses, municipalities and institutions are proving that pollution-prevention measures not only protect the environment, but they also can improve an organization's financial performance and enhance local economies."

Since 1996, the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Department of Environmental Protection have presented the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence to Pennsylvania's leaders in energy efficiency, recycling, sustainable land use and resource protection. The award honors individuals, businesses, municipalities and institutions working to benefit Pennsylvania's environment and economy.

Projects are evaluated by an independent panel of judges, who select winners based on a variety of criteria, including economic, environmental and social impact, innovation, transferability and educational efforts.

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EDITORS: Robert Graves can be reached at 814-865-7155 or e-mail reg2@psu.edu. For more information on the compost center, contact Nadine Davitt at 814-865-6606.

Contact:

Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax