Pilot Study of Coal Ash Compost

▪ Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington, has recently begun plans to compost approximately 16,500 tons of the waste generated annually on campus. Animal manure from the university dairy and from Veterinary Sciences will contribute 10,000 tons. A food pulper has been installed in one of the dining halls and will contribute approximately 440 tons. Mixed waste paper that does not have a market, landscape trimmings and used potting soil will also be composted. In addition, Washington State University power plant generates approximately 1,000 tons of coal ash annually. This paper discuss a pilot project to determine the feasibility of including coal ash in the compost mixture.