Trip to Stowe for Composting Site Visit

Mrs. Pidgeon visited Stowe Elementary school on Monday in order to observe their compositing practices. She was delighted by their easy system, which placed a staff member and some fifth graders in charge of their procedures. Their system has been developed over the past nine years. They use three large composters, placed close to the school for year-round access. The school overcame several issues we face, such as smell, animals and implementation. Among the many interested discoveries was the magentic ring in their trash to keep silverware from enter the wast cycle. 

 The top of the recycling can indicates which materials are or are not acceptable for recycling.

 These two receptacles receive all of the solid waste that can be recycled. The Stowe school analyzed their solid waste with the Solid Waste Association of Vermont and discovered that as much as 50% of their waste  could have been recycled.

In the image below, the single blue bin collects all of the non-compost, non-recycling solid waste from all 400 students.

 Below, the magnetic catching device is depicted. This device keeps silverware out of the trash.

 This shows students mixing the composter, which takes place regularly. Next to the composter are leaves, which are a necessary source of carbon. The students collect leaves in the fall and place them in bags for use throughout the year.