The young masterminds behind South Bristol School’s second place finish in the Zero Waste Challenge say they want to use the school’s $2000 prize to start implementing their ambitious waste reduction plan.
South Bristol’s “garbologists” accepted the prize Feb. 1 at a ceremony at Memorial Middle School in South Portland. The tiny K-8 school was sandwiched between two much larger competitors – grand prize winner Memorial Middle School (South Portland) and third place finisher Massabesic Middle School (Waterboro) – in a field of 12 schools.
SBS fifth-grader Patrick Preston views the school’s small size as an advantage. The other, larger schools “produce a lot more waste,” he said.
The Zero Waste Challenge asks students in grades 5-8 to submit plans to help their schools save resources by evaluating and reducing their waste streams.
A panel of experts from the fields of education, sustainability and waste management judges the submissions.
The SBS students, all members of the school’s nature club, submitted their plan in the form of a five-minute video filmed, narrated and edited by students.
The video starts by pointing out the school’s existing trash-fighting programs. The school collects compost and uses the compost to fertilize the vegetables grown in an on-campus greenhouse.
SBS also recycles ink cartridges, magazines and paper and uses the returnables it collects to help fund the annual eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C.
Next, the students set out to determine what, despite these efforts, they’re still throwing away.
Sixth-grader David Barnum took the lead for this unappetizing task, rummaging through trash barrels and recording his findings on a clipboard.
The students identified the three primary “culprits” as cardboard milk cartons, paper towels and snack wrappers.
“It’s mostly either food or food packaging that’s in the trash can,” sixth-grader Tahlia Mullen said.
Finally, the students laid out a three-year plan to reduce waste. This year, the students plan to reduce the number of trash cans, place more compost bins in strategic places, increase the use of whiteboards with hopes of cutting paper use, and survey staff and students for more ideas.
Next year, the plan calls for the school to start recycling all glass, metal and plastic; replace disposable, plastic eating utensils with metal silverware; start all-electronic “paperless project initiatives” and host three zero waste lunch days.
In the third and final year of the plan, the students want to buy milk in large jugs, replacing the offending cartons with reusable plastic cups; institute a no-styrofoam policy, eliminating trays and other containers; and institute monthly zero waste lunch days.
The ultimate goal is to reduce garbage by half and paper waste by 20 percent, while increasing the amount of compost by 10 percent.
“Our school is already doing some wonderful things to preserve the environment, but we want to do more,” a narrator states as the video nears its end. “Our zero waste initiative will make us an even more environmentally friendly school.”
The Nature Club will discuss how to use the prize money at its next weekly meeting. The purchase of silverware and other dishes to replace disposable cutlery and plastic foam trays ranks high on the wish list.
Chewonki and Poland Spring sponsored the challenge.
According to a Chewonki press release, Chewonki President Willard Morgan hopes the competition will be a catalyst for “rethinking waste” in Maine.
“Zero waste has environmental, financial and social benefits, and this project provides a path for schools to reduce solid waste, save money and engage in meaningful education,” Morgan said. “The plans that we received from Maine students and their teachers went above and beyond our expectations and proved that young people can and will take the lead in making the world more sustainable.”
The challenge will continue next year with additional sponsors ecoMaine and Pine Tree Waste.
The SBS “garbologists” are Barnum, Corey Blanc, Emmalie Blanchard, Jacob Brown, Julie Dinsmore, Ayla Liss, Mullen, Julianna Preston, Patrick Preston and faculty garbologists Jason Bigonia and Sandi Day.
To watch their video, Google South Bristol Zero Waste Challenge or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjSZu0NgOkA.
