Rocket Composter 2015
Download as PPT, PDF1 like714 views
The Long Beach Island Consolidated School District received a $28,500 grant to launch a food waste composting project using a Rocket Composter. The goals were to integrate food waste separation in the school cafeteria and expand to the community. However, one month after launching the project, it stopped. The document discusses next steps like reinvolving volunteers, getting support from the district and board, integrating concepts into curriculum, determining costs to revamp, and identifying potential funding sources if needed.
Rocket Composter 2015
- 1. Coastal Community Compost Project @ the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District Angela C. Andersen Long Beach Township Recycling Coordinator and Co –author of State Farm Grant
- 2. Rocket Composter landed at EJ 2012 LBI Consolidated School District received a service learning grant from State Farm Youth Advisory Board in 2011 in the amount of $28,500 Purchase Rocket Compost unit Purchase/ install fence , modify electric and purchase carts, buckets and tarps Partners in Grant Writing: LBICSD Teacher /LBT Recycling & Clean Communities Coordinator Goal:Student focused project in waste reduction and community development
- 3. What is the rocket composter?
- 4. Coastal Community Composting vision Short Term goal: Integrate food waste separation/compost within the school/cafeteria ( and single stream recycling-it’s the law) Long Term Goal: Expand to families, residents, community ( take food scraps- provide compost) Extension of the vegetable garden development, rain garden installations and fitness clusters
- 5. Food Waste- the next frontier
- 6. What is Compost? COMPOSTING: the process of turning once living organic matter into rich soil food/yard waste> soil enhancer Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly, and smells like a forest floor 40% of waste to the landfill is organic ( food, yard)
- 7. Ocean County Stats Ocean County Landfill, Corp. Solid Waste 2010- Ranging from $ 71.21-$102.65 per ton Ocean County Single Stream Recycling 2010 - 55,235 tons – saved $ 4 million in tonnage fees Ocean County yard waste Compost Brush- 7048.62 tons ( as of 11/30/11) Leaves-9876.62 tons ( as of 11/30/11)
- 8. Single Stream-reduce –reuse- recycle –success!
- 9. County “yard waste” composting- everything but kitchen sink ! literally
- 10. County vs. Backyard vs. Rocket Composting County: accepts leaves for composting and brush for wood chips ( which will go in the Rocket) Backyard: Kitchen scraps veggie, fruit, coffee, tea, nuts and yard trimmings ( no meat or bones) Rocket: food scraps including leftovers, plate scrapings, meat, bones, eggs, bread, rice, kitchen scraps
- 11. Environmental, Educational and Economic Benefits Reduces school food waste and the expense to haul it to landfill. Reduces “carbon footprint” (e.g., less garbage, so less trips to landfills; e.g., fewer garbage trucks and pickups = less pollution) Reduces water use in gardens ( aerated healthy soil) which reduces stormwater runoff Improves community recycling efforts- goal of 50% is not met in ocean county Provides sustainability education and outreach to our students and community members Enhances curriculum with real world learning of eco issues
- 12. Sustainable Community Benefits of Compost Scraps from local restaurants- then have farm to table dinners to benefit LBIPTA Compost use: ornamental shrubs at the school and at community/municipal locations Benefits for the land and water: soil conditioner, a fertilizer, a natural pesticide ( heartier plants) Increases soil health and drainage, rainwater recharge and runoff /erosion control** -The LBI students were taught to separate food waste in the cafeteria -Parent volunteers signed up to help them separate food -Signs were made to show what to what not to compost -The County was on track to deliver wood chips
- 13. The kids and community welcomed the new project
- 14. The teachers and staff were taking notes
- 15. The launch was a success
- 16. Then…One month after the launch
- 17. So now what….? Is the PTA willing to reintroduce the separation volunteer list for the cafeteria Is the district willing to have cafeteria and custodial staff reintroduce the project Is the board supportive of the short and long term vision of reducing, reusing and recycling in the district Can the teachers integrate these concepts into curriculum in the current climate How much will it cost to revamp project- if anything Is funding available- if so where If not how does the district give away its property?
Editor's Notes
- #6: The LBICSD is the first school wide food waste compost program in Ocean County, third in New Jersey.