Farm to school compost

17

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Transcript of Farm to school compost

Page 1: Farm to school compost

Composting in a School

SettingJoe Van Rossum

UW-Extension

[email protected]

Page 2: Farm to school compost

Why Compost

A hands on learning tool

To manage a Waste Stream

To return nutrients to the soil

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School Waste Management Solid Waste

Identify what is in the waste stream

Optimize recycling for traditional

Materials

Moving on to composting

School Chemical Management

Lab chemicals

Facility maintenance supplies

Green & Healthy Schools Program

Adjust waste collection to match

generation

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Lest we forget

Waste Reduction

Food Donation

Which menu items produce the most waste?

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The School Compost Challenge

Involve the right people early

1. Nutrition services staff

2. Custodians

3. Administration

4. Teachers

5. Students

6. Parents/Community

Develop a plan that ALL agree to

Short term project vs. sustainable program

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Dedicated Operators Need Only

Apply

Key to building sustainable programs

Incorporate functions into position descriptions

Part of day to day activities

Involve with project planning

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The Role of Students May be grade level dependant

Where do they fit in the process

Collection bin monitors

Participating observers

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Health and Safety Provide clear information to

Staff

Students

Parents

Keep bins clean

Wash hands often

Use gloves

Good Housekeeping

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Where will you collect? Kitchen Prep

Food cooked but not served

Food served but not eaten

Faculty lounge/Classroom

Bagged lunch

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On-site or Offsite Critical decision point

Set up system at school

Work with existing compost facility

Logistics

Year round service

What can be accepted for composting

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On-site Composting

Size Matters

How much waste are you

composting?

Recipe development

Space available

Method of Composting

Bin

Pile

In-vessel

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Composting Method

Static Pile

Passively aerated pile

Turned windrow

In-vessel

Vermicomposting

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Location of the Pile Access

Easy for managing

Away from playground

All season?

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Equipment Needs Compost Thermometer

Scale

Collection bins/pails

Rubber gloves

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Create a Plan for Your School

Educational opportunities

exist at all steps

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Plan Components Description of activities

Collection

Pile building

Pile maintenance

Other

Define who is responsible

Site layout drawing

Monitoring

Evaluation

Other as appropriate

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Resources SHWEC factsheet

CT school manual

Worms Eat My Garbage - Mary Appelhof

Cornell Health & Safety document

Joe Van Rossum

UW-Extension Recycling Specialist

[email protected]