by Lauren White
Meet Daniel Collazo, Compost Cat Extraordinaire - B.S. Molecular & Cellular Biology, 2021
It's sundown at the University of Arizona Community Garden, and Daniel Collazo is thoughtful, assessing the Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting system that he and fellow Compost Cats student employees installed in Fall 2019. Collazo was investigating ways to streamline the composting process, but on a smaller scale than the traditional windrow system Compost Cats utilized since 2011. When Collazo learned about ASPs, he knew they could be the solution he'd been seeking.
A little quick background for the uninitiated: Compost Cats is one of the longest-running student sustainability programs at the University of Arizona, with a mission to capture food scraps, brush and other organic waste, and transform it into the nutritious soil amendment we know as “compost”. Millions of tons of waste enter Tucson's landfills each year, and one third is composed of organics that could be rescued and transformed via composting. Since its inception, Compost Cats has diverted a cool 20 million pounds of such material from area landfills.
Collazo first got involved with Compost Cats as an AmeriCorps volunteer in 2018. Tongue in cheek, he says he joined the organization “for the fast paced, nonstop composting action and stayed for the tractors”. Composting, of course, is a lengthy process that can easily take six months or longer, depending on the feedstocks - or raw materials - used, and the microbial activity within the compost piles.
ASPs are a relatively new and promising method of composting that may decrease the overall time it takes to transform organic matter into fully finished compost. ASPs require fewer inputs and effort, and often yield a higher quality end product. With Collazo leading the charge, Compost Cats created a pilot ASP system at the Community Garden using inexpensive materials like plywood, PVC pipe, a bounce-house air blower, and thermometer. Through this project, Compost Cats hoped to gain data and insight to determine whether a large scale ASP system might be a more efficient, cost-effective alternative to windrows in the future.
Today, Collazo peers into the ASP system, brow furrowed in thought. The system is housed within a sizable wooden rectangle, with three distinct partitions that contain a mix of things like orange peels and tree trimmings in various stages of breakdown. Collazo rakes through the contents of each partition, gauging moisture, measuring temperatures, and hosing down dry areas as needed. As he does this, he gives an informal lesson on ASP maintenance to Office of Sustainability Director Trevor Ledbetter and Sustainability Program Manager, Lauren White. Collazo's enthusiasm for the project is palpable - but then, he's an enthusiastic guy.
In person, Collazo is exuberant, with a contagious energy. He puts others at ease with his deadpan, often self-deprecating humor, and possesses a barely contained physicality that has him clambering up compost piles, rolling down hills, hanging upside down from tree limbs and just generally keeping those around him entertained. This youthful zeal allows him to connect well with children and teens at Compost Cats' many outreach events, and he has been surprised to discover a love for teaching. “I really enjoy working with community members, but more specifically, teaching and mentoring in schools,” Collazo says. “It's amazing to see how bright and passionate these kids are, and I love showing them the topics that I hold near and dear to my heart, and watching them get passionate about the same issue.”
Quick-witted and friendly, Collazo has rapidly become an unofficial MVP in both Compost Cats and on the Office of Sustainability team because of his positive outlook, comedic timing, and ardor for nature. But don't be fooled by Collazo's buoyant side: he is a serious student with a scientific curiosity, and he reflects deeply on the state of the planet. We asked him about his career plans, and here is what he said:
“When I think about what I've wanted to do and what's motivated me, I think it really boils down to wanting to help people…I had grand aspirations of becoming a genetic engineer to try and combat malaria or design the next strain of drought resistant wheat. I had some great teachers in high school that really helped me to discover my love of science and the environment, but I felt that the best place for me was trying to figure out how life worked on the smallest possible levels and improve people's lives using that knowledge. When I got to college…for some reason spending hours and hours drawing up pedigrees or sitting at a computer to scroll through plasmids wasn't lighting a fire in my soul like I had imagined. Don't get me wrong, I'm still fascinated by microbiology and life in general, but I've come to terms with the fact that I probably won't be cut out for a life of research. In my remaining year of school, unless something goes horribly wrong like the entire country shutting down due to some kind of infectious agent or something else crazy and random like that, I think I'll pursue another degree in a STEM area that will be more applicable to combating global climate change. I greatly enjoy working with Compost Cats and the Office of Sustainability because I can see how my work directly impacts sustainability efforts on campus and in the Tucson community.”
An avid bird lover and outdoor enthusiast, Collazo hopes to weave his appreciation for the natural world into his career path firsthand as well. He states, “I truly enjoy being outside. I like hiking, but it can be difficult to get far because if I see a bird, I've gotta stop and look at that bird. If it's anything with feathers, you can bet I'll make like a female goose in spring, and take a gander. I've recently become more interested in botany and growing things, and I've been looking for some introductory geology materials that are to my lichen. Hopefully I'll be able to dig into those soon enough.”
When he's not elbow-deep in dirt, Collazo is fond of European science fiction and jazz greats like Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. He also dabbles in music himself, stating, “I ‘play' the trombone, but my past band directors didn't allow me to use that word, so I've begun to ‘play' saxophone even worse.”
Regardless of where his many interests may lead him, we are confident that Collazo has a bright future ahead and will keep making a meaningful difference in the world. The force is strong with this one.