Reducing our school's carbon footprint through composting the canteen food waste

Over one-third of global food production is estimated to contribute to the waste stream, leading to greenhouse gas emissions. Composting food waste emerges as a sustainable solution, effectively mitigating emissions by sequestering carbon in the soil, while also offering various environmental, economic and social benefits. However, food waste management pathways are mainly landfilling and controlled combustion, only a little fraction ends up being composted.

Our secondary school is actively engaged in promoting recycling and sustainability within the scholar and local communities. With the active collaboration of students, we initially focused on separating light packing and paper, but we recognized that a substantial portion, approximately 40%, of our waste was organic waste from the school canteen. In response, we launched a composting initiative to convert this organic waste into valuable fertile soil.  Presently, four composters are consistently fed twice a week, yielding compost that enriches the soil in our school vegetable garden.

This poster shows the comprehensive procedure, detailing the collection of food waste and the employed composting methods, including vermicomposting. The final product is a nutrient-rich organic material that enhances soil structure, fertility, ad moisture retention.

This experience has not only significantly reduced our school’s waste output but has also played a pivotal role in raising awareness and educating students about climate change, waste-related issues, and the importance of local actions. Through active collaboration, we aim to install a sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness among students, fostering a sustainable mindset for the future.