Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) is a nonprofit community college offers more than 200 academic programs and is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Although LAHC does not offer living accommodations to students, there are several on-campus food options such as food trucks, cafes, and convenience stores. The LAHC cafeteria and bistro is serviced by the college’s Culinary Arts program. The cafeteria offers fresh, made-to-order menu items and generates food scraps and waste from daily preparation and operation.
LAHC is located in the heart of the Port of Los Angeles and is surrounded by 43 miles of water, adjoining the Port of Long Beach. While LAHC does not have an established sustainability program, the LACCD district could see how food waste could potentially negatively impact the surrounding waterfront environment and began searching for solutions. LACCD wanted to incorporate a forward looking, sustainable solution for their food waste. In 2019, LAHC purchased an LFC-70 biodigester to futureproof their facility.
Net Zero at LACCD by 2040
In July 2020, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees adopted a Clean Energy and Sustainability resolution to eliminate the District’s carbon-energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the 100 percent carbon-free energy goal by 2040. The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) aims to implement long lasting sustainable technology across all of its campuses.
“We’ve committed to two goals ahead of the nation or even ahead of the state,” Vice Chancellor and Chief Facilities Executive for the Los Angeles Community College District, Reuben Smith said. “Our goals are to decarbonize 100% by 2040, and then we’re going to have 100% clean energy renewables by 2030. Very lofty goals, but we really truly believe we can do it.”
As part of their zero-waste Sustainability Vision 2040 plan, LACCD aims to include the following considerations for eliminating landfill waste: increase material reuse, increase recycling, compost food and landscape waste, convert all food service products to biodegradable materials, eliminate single use plastics, and reduce the carbon footprint of food service.
Future proof food waste solutions
The cafeteria and bistro at LAHC is serviced by Los Angeles Harbor College’s Culinary Arts program to offer experience in a real-time environment. Food waste, peels, scraps, and leftovers are generated from daily cafeteria operations.
LAHC is located between Wilmington and Harbor City and is surrounded by 43 miles of water Although composting is an ideal solution to food waste, it would be not feasible given the limited campus space. A successful composting program also requires a large time commitment, man-power, dedication, and resources.
In 2019, LAHC purchased an LFC-70 biodigester as a future proof food waste solution. The machine was not in use during 2020 due to campus shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. The biodigester resumed operations in 2021 when on-campus learning returned.
Trash is segregated into regular trash and compost. The compost comprises food waste that can be digested by the LFC biodigester. Both LAHC students and staff use the biodigester which sits in the back loading dock.
The food waste is segregrated into a three step process:
- Used cooking oil is collected by an outside agency for biofuel use.
- Soft foods that are digestible by the LFC biodigester are poured into the machine.
- Hard foods that are non-digestible are placed into a food waste bin which is collected by an outside agency.
The biodigester has helped eliminate most organic waste from LAHC’s campus and is the first of many steps towards LACCD’s goal of achieving net zero food waste.
