A student from this year’s graduating class will be delivering a presentation about handling organic waste at Pacific, while introducing a more effective way to dispose of it.
Michael Furuya, who is a sustainable design major, will be presenting his senior project, titled “Bokashi: An Alternative for Handling Organic Waste at Pacific University,” on Wednesday, April 24, in McGill Auditorium. A specific time has not yet been scheduled for the event.
“I believe if [Boxer Dining] transports their organic waste to the B-Street Permaculture Farm and use the Bokashi Compost Method, then it will promote community,” said Furuya. He pointed out examples of how the public could benefit from this, such as having people at the farm notice the project and selling or donating the compost to local farmers, all while realizing Pacific’s goal of encouraging sustainable practice.
Organic waste consists of anything that is biodegradable, such as yard waste, cardboard, fruits, vegetables and beans. As a part of his research, Furuya discovered that Boxer Dining currently donates their organic waste to a local pig farmer. He believes that waste should be transported to the B-Street Permaculture farm, and that it should be composted using a Japanese method called Bokashi. Bokashi, which means “fermented organic matter,” is the process of having organic waste fermented in an oxygen-free container combined with a mixture of microorganisms that suppresses the smell and produces soil.
Furuya said he hopes the project will promote the importance and function of this method, while expanding his own knowledge about compost. His goal is to earn a career in the environmental sector, which is one of the fastest growing sectors in today’s market.
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