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

What is the rocket composter?

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

Food Waste- the next frontier

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)

Single Stream-reduce –reuse- recycle –success!

County “yard waste” composting- everything but kitchen sink ! literally

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

The kids and community welcomed the new project

The teachers and staff were taking notes

The launch was a success

Then…One month after the launch

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?