Why and How to Compost in School?

Composting helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills but it also enables children to learn how waste materials can be turned into something useful. But they also learn that helping preserve the environment doesn’t have to be expensive. On the contrary, it can save money too!

Benefits of Composting in School

There are many benefits of composting in school. To mention only a few:

By composting food leftovers, leaves, grass cuttings and other organic waste materials, the amount of waste produced by the school is automatically reduced. Equally important is that the school gets a very useful product - natural fertiliser as compost is rich in plant-nutrients. Instead of buying fertilisers for its gardens, landscape and pot plants, the school can use compost that doesn’t cost anything.

Another benefit of composting in school is first-hand learning about the recycling process. Children understand why is important to recycle waste materials and its benefits for both the environment and community at a very young age but composting allows them to see and experience the difference they are making by turning something yucky into something useful. At the same time, turning organic waste into compost helps them understand the chemical and biological processes that are involved which in turn increases interest in learning.

The last but not the least important, composting in school raises the awareness about the importance and benefits of recycling, especially if other waste materials/products are recycled too. By knowing that such a simple thing as piling up organic waste and waiting for it to decompose can make a big difference for the environment and at the same time, save money, our youngest ones will sooner and more enthusiastically participate in recycling of the rest of waste as well.

How to Compost in School?

Composting in school can be done either on- or off-site. In the former case, composting bins are kept on the school grounds which is the preferred method because it enables children to observe changes and participate in composting on a daily basis. Another option is to compost off-site either by having someone picked up organic waste or having it transported to the chosen location. In this case, it is advisable to take children periodically to the site in order for them to see how their efforts are turning into something good for the environment.