This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Only 15 of 53 schools are “Green Star” schools in St. Vrain Valley School District. Boulder Valley Schools have 39 out of 59 Green Star schools. Green Star schools have robust zero-waste education and programming including composting. Organics in the landfill produce methane gas which is 84 times more potent than CO2 in contributing to climate change. Composting at schools is very important.
Eco-Cycle, Boulder County’s 42 year-old, non-profit, internationally recognized Zero-Waste resource provides this help to schools. Boulder Valley started this vital program three years before St. Vrain District. It’s time for St. Vrain to step up and provide more funding for the Green Star Schools Program so more schools can be included sooner.
According to the International Panel on Climate Change, we have a window of about 12 years to stop the devastating effects of climate change. Reducing our consumptive habits of things like single use plastics, re-purposing items, and especially getting organics out of the landfill by composting can all act as climate solutions.
Education is key to implementing alternative practices. Kids become ambassadors for Zero Waste and are the best educators! Once they learn the ropes on what goes in which bin and the WHY behind Zero Waste, they come home and share that information with their families.
This not only saves money and effort in the future, it generates better participation and a new culture throughout our whole community. It empowers kids to help shape their own future.
Please contact St. Vrain board members and tell them we want our kids/schools to be part of the solution.
