Anaerobic Digestion Implementation for Organic Waste Diversion; Cincinnati's Zero-Waste Priority Action

Abstract

Record ID: 97

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: Capstone

Presentation Type: Presentation and Video

Abstract: Organic materials are responsible for over 30% of municipal solid waste and has created a need for sustainable waste practices, especially in urban settings. A potential solution to divert increased food waste from landfills is by implementing an anaerobic digestion system in the city of Cincinnati. Anaerobic digesters utilize microorganisms to break down organic waste into biogas and soil additives, which can be harnessed as a source of renewable energy and fertilizer products. This Zero Waste initiative of the Green Cincinnati Plan is a potential program and we hope this research will aid its implementation. By researching other cities where anaerobic digesters have been successfully applied, we were able to identify base-load materials, select a location near material sources, and determine potential applications in Cincinnati for the resulting product. Our results will help the city of Cincinnati go forward in developing an anaerobic digester system within the city given the guidance and research provided in this paper.