Sustainability Spotlight: Schoolwide Composting at Arts and Humanities
The February Sustainability Spotlight is shining on the Arts and Humanities Focus Program!
Thanks to student interest, the building now participates in schoolwide composting and collects organic materials in classrooms, restrooms and offices. The Arts and Humanities Student Council started the conversation about stepping up their composting efforts with site leadership and the Sustainability Team last school year.
Renovations to the interior of the Bottler’s Building over winter break provided the perfect opportunity to upgrade waste containers and signage for the start of the spring semester.
High school senior Basil Sedriks serves as president of the student council and said that the addition of schoolwide composting has helped increase students’ awareness of the kinds of waste they are generating.
The program also builds on existing support for choosing reusable drinkware and food containers among the student population.
“It's made me really happy that we have it in place. The whole community has talked more about it, and talked more about the environment, which I think is very nice.”
Just like other high schools, lunch time at Arts and Humanities sees a flurry of conversations and activity. Discussions among the 94 students in the program are unique, though, in that students are frequently double-checking with posted signage, internet searches and each other when they have waste they aren’t sure how to sort.
“Everyone’s been asking questions about what they can compost, what they can recycle, and paying more attention to that now that we have the compost bins here,” Basil said.
Sophomore Jo Peeks said that while he wasn’t a part of bringing schoolwide composting to the building, he is happy to have the chance to participate and support his peers.
“I do my best to call other people out when they’re not putting things in the right baskets,” Jo said. “I also try to make sure I tell teachers what’s going on so that they can put it up on the slideshows and help everyone.”
Staff and student reception to this new opportunity to keep more waste out of the landfill has been exceptionally positive, and reflects Arts and Humanities’ overall culture of collaboration.
Site Coordinator Mar-Lakuittia Overstreet said that the addition of schoolwide composting has tied in well with the Focus Program’s semester theme of the “re-” prefix, providing an opportunity for students to both think about and take action to reduce, reuse and recycle.
“They were overwhelmed and thankful and super excited when we got the bins,” she said. “This is something that collectively, as an entire school, we wanted to ensure that we were composting and having the materials needed.”
Overstreet said that the process has sparked more interest in sustainability efforts outside of composting, as well. Students are talking more about environment-related clubs, and the coming spring will provide a chance to explore the possibility of incorporating the grounds around Arts and Humanities into new sustainability-related projects.
“As we continue to work with it and get materials, we’ll continue to get stronger and better at what we’re doing,” Overstreet said. “I’m very thankful and excited for the students to continue to learn.”
The Sustainability Team has so enjoyed working with everyone at the Arts and Humanities Focus Program to help implement schoolwide composting, and can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!
Updated February 6, 2025
