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A request is made to establish the Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center in the College of Engineering at USU that is a collaboration between the Biological Engineering Department and the City of Logan Environmental Department. The Dean of the College of Engineering will appoint two Co-Directors, one from the BE Department and one from the City of Logan, Utah. The Center will develop new bio-based sustainable engineering technologies that convert wastes into bioproducts for municipalities and industries in Utah, the Intermountain West, and the nation.

 

 

The request was approved by the Utah State University Board of Trustees in November of 2010, and was subsequently signed by the State of Utah Commissioner of High Education 

 

October 21, 2010

 

 

 

A request is made to establish the Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center that is a collaboration between the Biological Engineering Department, College of Engineering at USU, and the Environmental Department, City of Logan, Utah. The Center Office will be located in the Biological Engineering Department in the College of Engineering. The Dean of the College of Engineering will appoint two Co-Directors, one from the BE Department and one from the City of Logan. The first Co-Directors include Dr. Ronald Sims, Head of the Department of Biological Engineering at USU, and Mr. Issa Hamud, Director of the Logan City Environmental Department. The Center will utilize resources and facilities of the City of Logan that are located at the sites of the Logan Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Logan Landfill, and of the USU Biological Engineering research laboratories.  The Center will develop new bio-based sustainable engineering technologies that convert wastes into bioproducts for municipalities and industries in Utah, the Intermountain West, and the nation.

 

 

Utah municipalities, including the City of Logan, are in need of expertise related to biological engineering research that addresses sustainable management of waste, including wastewater and solid wastes, that cannot be adequately addressed with current technologies in an economical and sustainable way. The proposed Center will utilize the expertise of the Biological Engineering Department, including experimental and academic-based knowledge, to address the following needs of the City of Logan and other Utah municipalities: (1) develop new bio-based technologies for utilizing wastes as a resource for sustainable reuse and re cycle of nutrients, (2) meet new national standards for water quality, and (3) produce waste-based bioproducts that include biofuels as sources of power and transportation, and bioplastics, and other products of value.  The technologies developed through the Center will also be applicable to other communities in Utah and in the Intermountain West Region. 

 

The Center will also contribute to national security through energy independence that is based on the development of bioenergy and bioplastics sources locally through utilization of waste materials.  Waste-based bioenergy, bioplastics, and other bioproducts technologies developed through the Center will provide new alternatives for addressing sustainable waste treatment and bioenergy production for the state, the region, and the nation.

  

 

The proposed Center will not affect enrollments in the instructional program of the Biological Engineering Department.  Dr. Ronald Sims, Head of the Department, will serve as one Co-Director of the Center, with the other Co-Director Mr. Issa Hamud, Director of the Logan City Environmental Department. The Center will be affiliated with the Biological Engineering Department, within the College of Engineering, and with the City of Logan Environmental Department.  No changes in faculty or staff are required.  No new facilities are required because the Center will utilize the existing physical facilities that are located at the City of Logan sites that include the Wastewater Lagoon Treatment System and the Sanitary Landfill, and the USU Biological Engineering Department research laboratories.  Equipment and instrumentation for the Center activities are currently in place and were provided through local and federal government support in the form of contracts and grants, and through industry contributions.