The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be allowed to conduct a four-month mulching experiment on a portion of the university’s St. Martin Parish farm.
UL Director of Sustainability Gretchen Vanicor appeared at the Aug. 6 meeting of the St. Martin Parish Council seeking the council’s approval to proceed with the study. Vanicor told the Teche News that the study will demonstrate environmentally friendly methods of dealing with campus waste.
There will be participation in the study by local sugar producers to develop programs for more environmentally sound disposal of sugar mill waste.
“The goal,” Vanicor said, “Is to demonstrate that composting can provide a better option for disposal of certain kinds of waste than diversion to landfills.” The experiment will involve about 620 cubic feet of material and occupy less than one-third of an acre. It is planned to run from Sept. 2 through Nov. 30.
Material for the mulch experiment will consist of 40 percent sugar mill by-products, 40 percent wood chips and about 15 percent will be organic refuse collected at Cajun Field football games. Vanicor said there will be no odor produced and no risk to aquifers or infrastructure. Mulch produced will be used on the farm, not sold or distributed.
The request was granted with a unanimous vote.
In other business, the council authorized President Chester Cedars to sign a contract amendment for $107,000 in additional charges to Acadiené Renovations for work at Cade Park. The additional costs involve upgrades including the addition of a splash pad, a concession stand and baseball field improvements.
