UWO to use food waste for energy

OSHKOSH (AP) - The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will use food scraps and yard waste to provide energy on campus.

A $3.5 million bio-digester is expected to be operational this year and will convert waste into biogas for electricity and heat. The system should generate up to 10 percent of the university's electricity.

The Journal Sentinel reports the bio-digester will use about 8,000 tons of organic waste per year, including garbage from the campus cafeterias. The university expects the system will pay for itself in about seven to 10 years through energy savings.