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What’s Happening
- Sudbury’s Energy and Sustainability recently discussed a civics project from the 8th grade civics program at Ephraim Curtis Middle School. The project proposes to establish a district-wide composting program.
- As a result of those discussions, the committee voted to fund a two-year pilot of a composting program, not to exceed $30,000. They also voiced an interest in longer-term funding if the results of the pilot are compelling.
- There was much discussion about who should lead such a project and the financial impact. The Sudbury Public Schools school district has not proposed a composting program, but the committee wanted to encourage them with funding.
- There was also discussion about the approach, as food waste can be hauled off-site, or composted on-site. The details of such a program would be left to the school district to decide, if they opt to pursue such a program.
Why It Matters
- To quote the 8th grade civics team: “In Massachusetts alone, organic materials—primarily food scraps—make up over 25% of our waste stream (MassDEP). By implementing composting programs in all Sudbury Public Schools, we can significantly reduce this waste and teach students valuable lessons about sustainability.”
- The civics team also notes: “Food waste contributes to 58% of methane emissions. Importantly, composting not only reduces landfill use but also decreases emissions of harmful greenhouse gases such as methane, which is 25 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Further, the rich soil produced from composting can be used in school gardens or donated to local farms.”