rocket composter 2015
Post on 09-Apr-2017
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Coastal Community Compost Project @ the
Long Beach Island Consolidated School District
Angela C. AndersenLong Beach Township Recycling Coordinator and
Co –author of State Farm Grant
Rocket Composter landed at EJ 2012 LBI Consolidated School District received a
service learning grant from State Farm Youth Advisory Board in 2011 in the amount of $28,500 Purchase Rocket Compost unit Purchase/ install fence , modify electric and
purchase carts, buckets and tarps
Partners in Grant Writing: LBICSD Teacher /LBT Recycling & Clean Communities Coordinator
Goal:Student focused project in waste reduction and community development
Coastal Community Composting vision Short Term goal:
Integrate food waste separation/compost within the school/cafeteria ( and single stream recycling-it’s the law)
Long Term Goal: Expand to families, residents,
community ( take food scraps- provide compost)
Extension of the vegetable garden development, rain garden installations and fitness clusters
What is Compost?
COMPOSTING: the process of turning once living organic matter into rich soil
food/yard waste> soil enhancer
Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly, and smells like a forest floor
40% of waste to the landfill is organic ( food, yard)
Ocean County Stats
Ocean County Landfill, Corp. Solid Waste 2010-
Ranging from $ 71.21-$102.65 per ton Ocean County Single Stream Recycling
2010 - 55,235 tons – saved $ 4 million in tonnage fees
Ocean County yard waste CompostBrush- 7048.62 tons ( as of 11/30/11)Leaves-9876.62 tons ( as of 11/30/11)
County vs. Backyard vs. Rocket Composting County: accepts leaves for composting and
brush for wood chips ( which will go in the Rocket)
Backyard: Kitchen scraps veggie, fruit, coffee, tea, nuts and yard trimmings ( no meat or bones)
Rocket: food scraps including leftovers, plate scrapings, meat, bones, eggs, bread, rice, kitchen scraps
Environmental, Educational and Economic Benefits
Reduces school food waste and the expense to haul it to landfill.
Reduces “carbon footprint” (e.g., less garbage, so less trips to landfills; e.g., fewer garbage trucks and pickups = less pollution)
Reduces water use in gardens ( aerated healthy soil) which reduces stormwater runoff
Improves community recycling efforts- goal of 50% is not met in ocean county
Provides sustainability education and outreach to our students and community members
Enhances curriculum with real world learning of eco issues
Sustainable Community Benefits of Compost Scraps from local restaurants- then have farm to table
dinners to benefit LBIPTA Compost use: ornamental shrubs at the school and at
community/municipal locations Benefits for the land and water: soil conditioner, a
fertilizer, a natural pesticide ( heartier plants) Increases soil health and drainage, rainwater recharge and
runoff /erosion control**-The LBI students were taught to separate food
waste in the cafeteria-Parent volunteers signed up to help them separate
food-Signs were made to show what to what not to
compost-The County was on track to deliver wood chips
So now what….?
Is the PTA willing to reintroduce the separation volunteer list for the cafeteria
Is the district willing to have cafeteria and custodial staff reintroduce the project
Is the board supportive of the short and long term vision of reducing, reusing and recycling in the district
Can the teachers integrate these concepts into curriculum in the current climate
How much will it cost to revamp project- if anything Is funding available- if so where If not how does the district give away its property?
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