New 3rd Floor “Pulper” Comes Online
'As part of the remodeling of the 3rd floor of OHSU Hospital (South), a "pulper" was installed. This piece of equipment is similar to a garbage disposal, except it is larger, bolted down and the food gets ground into a "pulp" instead of liquid. The excess water (up to 80%) that is used to grind up the pulp is pulled out and recirculated thus saving sewer and fresh water costs.

Since the pulper was installed Thursday 4-21-05 it is being used to dispose of food waste and paper from the patient trays. When the 3rd floor Cafe is finished we will start pulping food and paper from this location also.

The Pulp is transported to Cedar Grove Composting Inc. in Maple Valley, Washington. The compost produced at Cedar Grove is already being sold in Portland nurseries. Cedar Grove is actively looking for a site to compost food waste in the Portland Metro Area.


Kitchen Scraps to be Composted
As the kitchen comes "on-line" food scraps from the food production areas and the pot and pan area will be added to the total volume of food going to Cedar Grove. This change is part of the new "Portland Composts" program which started several months ago. Large producers of food waste are encouraged to separate it for composting.
 
Environmental Services estimates that trash from the kitchen/cafeteria accounts for 1/8th of the total at Dock 5. When the diversion is complete our part should be down by 50%, reports Nancy Oberschmidt, RD, LD, Assistant Director of Food & Nutrition Services.

The composting program accepts food waste, food soiled paper, other organics, small pieces of wood, and waxed cardboard. All of these have ended up either in the garbage disposal or hauled off to the landfill.  Portland Composts is a small, but significant step in getting the entire city up to it's 60% recycling goal.
 
We are the first hospital in Portland to join the composting program. We are starting off small and will add small pieces as we reopen the kitchen and cafe on the 3rd floor, reports Nancy. Does it save money?  No, not at this point, but the combined cost savings on water, sewer and garbage hauling should at least get us to a "break-even" point. There is also the "feel-good" part knowing that you are doing something that is environmentally friendly.
 
Nancy Oberschmidt, RD, LD
Assistant Director Food & Nutrition
OHSU 503 494-3756