When most people think about the impact they have on the environment, they tend to think of it on a global scale. However, some of the biggest ways we can make positive changes can be done in our local environment. School buildings account for a large amount of waste that can easily be reduced through smarter waste management programs and proper education about the influence we have on our environment. Instilling healthy waste reduction habits in the younger generations would be a good place to start. As it stands, few high schools in SVVSD have a sustainable composting program that would allow for smart disposal of organic waste. Shouldn’t these kids know how to reduce their waste before hitting the workforce, buying houses, etc? Shouldn’t their final years in school be teaching them how to make sustainable changes to their future environment? That’s what we’re trying to fix at Silver Creek High School. Easily accessible composting bins should be installed in the school cafeteria so that kids can dispose of food they don’t eat without having to send it to landfills. But would kids use a composting bin at school if we made one available? Our research says yes. We surveyed 300 Silver Creek students from all grades to determine what they already know about composting and if they would consider doing it at school. 71.3% of students said they would use a composting bin and 79% of students would be willing to learn more about it. Education and opportunity are crucial for this endeavor. Given these things, not only are kids willing to learn about their environment, they’re willing to change it. And if the children really are our future, shouldn’t healthy habits start with them?
Kaitlyn Ryan and Nicole Wilson