Zero Waste for Schools

3. Establish consistent signage, colors and containers to make recycling recognizable throughout the building.
4. Include ongoing education of teachers, students, custodians and administration.

From Crumbs to Compost

When schools have been recycling for a long time, composting becomes the next logical step in Zero Waste efforts. Composting can account for up to one-third of the reduction in waste.

In order to achieve this level of diversion, com- postable materials must be hauled to a large-scale compost facility. On-school-site vermicomposting or backyard-style composting to enhance school gardens is a wonderful way to involve and educate students. These methods will not, however, provide for substantial amounts of waste diverted from the landfill.

Usually, large-scale compost facilities are able to accept more materials, including foods such as meat and dairy and non-recyclable paper (tissues, napkins, paper towels). An average school of 400-600 students will produce two to three cubic yards of compost each week. Collecting materials from all areas of the school, including the kitchen, cafeteria, bathrooms (paper towels) and classrooms will provide the most benefit.

Keeping Compost Clean

Careful attention must be paid to keeping contamination out of the compost bin. Glass, metal and plastic are lethal to the decomposer organisms, and are difficult to screen out. Extensive education is required, not only with lists and posters, but also with the tie-in that worms, insects and microbes will be consuming the compost.

There is also a rising concern with the labeling of “compostable” foodservice ware. As community compost collections gain ground, there is an increasing number of one-time use materials like plates, cups and forks being marketed as compostable. However, many have been mislabeled and are not designed to truly biodegrade in a large-scale compost setting. Some of these materials actually contain oil-based plastic, which will never completely biodegrade.

To avoid these products, follow the guidelines and make use of the database offered by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a nonprofit independent research-based organization. BPI maintains an updated list of products that are certified to be truly compostable. (www.bpiworld.org)

In addition, milk cartons and other plastic-coated paper products should never be accepted into any type of compost collection. Recent research has shown that these products produce micro-plastic fragments that contaminate the envi- ronment after the compost is applied to the soil, adding to the growing problem of plastic pollution in multiple ecosystems, with detrimental effects on wildlife.

From large to small, there are several options for schools to take when considering a Zero Waste approach. No matter the obstacles, cost or lack of local infrastructure, there is a way to overcome those and find solutions that make sense based on the school community. Even for schools where recycling and composting may seem too difficult to tackle at the moment, everyone can enjoy the efforts and benefits of focusing on the most important “R” (reduce) in the three “R’s” of reduce, reuse, recycle. The beauty of adding recycling and compost collection to a school is the visible and valuable learning opportunities for students and teachers alike. While so many environmental issues are complex and difficult for stuendts to see their role or solution, there is a direct relation between the participation and action that can take place with reducing waste, recycling and compost- ing. The small, simple steps help students to see how those actions can lead to complex, local solutions to environmental problems. Students and teachers can see themselves in the complexity of the world.