Mina Repice and Alison Vaugan| May 6, 2024
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Many have probably noticed the posters around school for the new composting system, as well as a compost bin available during lunch, but few know the details of this fascinating endeavor. I'm here today, talking with Alison Vaughan about her Eco-ACT project, a vermicomposting system that is a large step towards the reduction of food waste at the school.
What inspired you to create the vermicomposting system?
"A 2019 study showed that school cafeterias waste up to 60 percent of the food they create. Each student produces around 40 pounds of food per year! Our system could cut down on the waste by 150-350 pounds per year. Originally, we wanted to work with a company that can take all of the food waste from school, but it was way too big of a project and very expensive! We get 50 bucks from Eco-ACT and it would cost that much per month."
Could you explain how this system works?
"Vermicomposting is a method of transforming organic materials into nutrient-dense compost. Using worms to decompose food waste and paper, it creates vermicompost that enhances soil quality, supporting larger plant growth while lowering risks for diseases and infestations.
As for the implementation in school, we have a volunteer system of about 10 people to take out the vermicompost bin two times per week after collecting the scraps on Thursday and Friday. It's going to increase to two days over time, but for right now is only once per week. Over the summer, we will likely move it to the Fox Park community garden for the neighborhood to put their scraps in."
Now what I'm really interested in here are the worms. What are they like, and how many are there?
"They are red wiggler worms and we have about 15 pounds of them. They can eat up to half their body weight in food per week!"
How do you envision the future of this project?
"I want it to become fully integrated with the garden club. I am going to be one of the presidents next year and am going to work to do this! This way, the leaders of the club will assume responsibility once I am gone."
Okay, now how can us students help out?
"Sign up to volunteer to bring the compost bin after lunch - it should be at the end of the day or if they have a study hall after lunch. It's pretty easy, you just have to grab a bin, take it out to the garden, and add the food to the system and make sure the food isn't exposed to air by covering it with existing soil in the bin or adding more in if needed. Also, students can bring in food waste from home (for volunteer hours, depending on the amount of waste), but make sure to check with me to see if the system needs it before you bring in any food."
The waste created from our school lunches add up. SLPS does not use compostable or reusable cutlery and the daily waste from the around 28,000 SLPS students per day from styrofoam lunch trays and plastic cutlery is another issue that Eco-ACT students aim to challenge.
It is integral for this system that the students make sure to compost their food waste whenever possible! This doesn't mean to throw your entire lunch into the bin, though; check this useful infographic to determine if your waste would be good food for our little red wigglers:
As seen by this project, Eco-ACT is truly a great way to learn about environmental issues and begin to combat them, even in the school setting. It's important that our student body prioritizes the minimization of waste on a consistent basis.
Additionally, this compost system is a great precursor to an improving school garden. With the improved soil outputs and increased participation in renovating our (previously somewhat abandoned) garden behind the school, we could really be on our way to having a thriving green area!
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