Students must increase awareness of compost bins to help environment

Students+often+forget+to+compost+due+to+the+rush+they+may+be+in+to+get+to+class.+If+students+could+take+more+care+in+what+they+often+negligently+throw+out%2C+the+production+of+greenhouse+gases+could+easily+be+reduced.

Mimi Geller

Students often forget to compost due to the rush they may be in to get to class. If students could take more care in what they often negligently throw out, the production of greenhouse gases could easily be reduced.

More often than not, students find themselves in a rush to make it on time to their next class after lunch. They shuffle and scramble as they make their way up to the counter with a mostly eaten dish in one hand and a crinkled napkin in the other. This student then proceeds to dispose of the waste in the most convenient bucket and carry on with their day. What this student may not be aware of, however, is that their simple action of placing waste in the incorrect basket, as opposed to putting it in the compost basket, could have aided in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

There are many ways that composting benefits the environment. It is extremely effective in minimizing the generation of greenhouse gases. Many people are under the impression that throwing away food waste to a landfill is alright because they believe it will eventually biodegrade. However, in the process of food decomposition, these scrapes rot without oxygen and instead heavily produce greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These potent food scraps which are sloppily placed in landfills create methane, a greenhouse gas stronger than carbon dioxide. By composting, the creation of greenhouse gases, specifically methane, can easily be decreased.

From the organization in the lunchroom, it may seem a little confusing to decipher what should and shouldn’t be composted, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult. Items such as pasta, any fruits and vegetables(including their peels), used tea bags, and stale bread are all foods that can be composted. Foods that cannot be composted are meats, cheese, yogurt, rice, baked goods, and milk products.

In order to properly utilize the compost system that is in place, students must take care in what they often carelessly throw away. A clearer display or poster should also be put in place to minimize confusion of what should and shouldn’t be composted. Students need to comprehend the repercussions from their simple actions and be more mindful in what they are placing in the garbage or compost.

Although students may often feel the commotion and bustle of the busy end-of-lunch- chaos, they should still feel obligated to help the environment. Composting is an uncomplicated action that will create nothing but positive change.