Gables goes Green

A new composting initiative led by the Green Coalition strives to make Gables a more environmentally conscious school

BY JULIA VOLMAN, STAFF WRITER

IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE GABLES an environmentally friendly community, the student-led Green Coalition has put forth a composting initiative that aims to turn the school’s food waste into fertilizer. This program’s ultimate goal is helping the school reduce its carbon footprint.

Approved by Principal Tony Ullivarri, the mission to give Gables a green thumb starts with reducing, reusing and recycling food scraps on campus. Composting is the act of quickening the decomposition of organic materials and using the end product as fertilizer, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. This will be done by placing designated composting bins in the cafeteria kitchens for staff and students to throw leftover food into.

“The Green Coalition wants to create an environment where people understand composting and engage with it to reduce the school’s food waste and carbon foot-print,” junior and leader of the initiative Gabriela McGrath said.

Agriculture, 30% to 40% of the United States’ yearly food supply is discarded in landfills to decompose, emitting the greenhouse gas as a byproduct. This large amount of released methane keeps heat trapped in the atmosphere. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, this process is known as global warming. Through this program, the school will limit their waste output and their contribution to the release of harmful gasses.

“With this program providing an easily accessible way to help the planet, people may start to participate and recycle food waste more,” freshman Hannah PascualFlores said.

WITH THIS PROGRAM PROVIDING AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WAY TO HELP THE PLANET, PEOPLE MAY START TO PARTICIPATE AND RECYCLE FOOD WASTE MORE.