The Problem
The waste system at our school was very disorganized, with little sorting. Most of people's waste went straight into the trash bins.
Our Plan
We worked on a composting initiative which started with setting up stations for people to stack their trays to compost, then later transitioning to full on composting with food and compostable packaging. We coordinated with many members of the community, from administrators to maintenance staff and parents to set up and keep the different components running!
Themes Addressed
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Climate Change
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Community
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Sustainability
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The Benefit
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Environment
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Here is how the project went:
We were able to collect and compost over 3400 lunch trays,saving them from being thrown into a landfill! We also mobilized the student community to think more carefully about their habits and dispose of waste more consciously. Before the school was closed due to the pandemic, we also started a trial-run for the collection of compostable food waste, packaging, and trays.
Through this project I/we learned:
We learned that we could make positive change in our community! It took a lot of dedication and effort, but we really surpassed others' expectations with the success of our student-led project.
What I/we might change:
We might make the monitoring more stringent and give students brief informational video or presentation on the importance of composting.
My/our favorite part of this project was:
For me, the best part of the project was seeing people stack their trays voluntarily and encourage their peers to do the same. It was very heartwarming to see how many members of the student body were willing to help us and make a change.
Some tips, tricks or fun facts about the project:
For anyone who is planning on implementing a composting initiative in their own school, we're in the process of creating a more comprehensive guide with all the things we learned. In the meantime, the important thing is to gather a group of passionate people who can monitor and spread the message. Do your research, create clear signage, implement the change on day 1, take note of your progress, and don't lose hope!
