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Tommy Verhey

The current setup in the lunchroom contains a recycling bin, as well as one trash can, and two compost bins.

Over the past few years, the lunch staff has continued to implement various ways for composting and eliminating waste. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, although a terrible thing, has allowed the staff and administration to brainstorm new and better ways to utilize compost. In the past, students have used glass plates, standard silverware, and reusable cups for lunches, but because of the constant spread of the coronavirus, these items were quickly taken out of the everyday rotation. Instead, the lunch staff has implemented disposable items that can enclose the spread of the coronavirus, keep students safe, and help keep the environment clean.

These significant changes, sure to confuse students and teachers, have been perfectly described and updated by the lunchroom staff. Countless infographics about the importance of composting are displayed in the cafeteria’s entryway, and different pictures of what can and cannot go into the compost, trash, and recycling bins located near the exit of the lunchroom, showing the excellent nature and well-being that the lunch staff has.

In the past, students have scraped whatever remained on their plates into the compost bin. With the updated usages of dining utensils, the signs and infographics have been a necessary yet fantastic idea to ensure the care students must show towards the environment. These new compost bins show the lunch staffs desire to continually develop new and fun ideas to engage students in helping the environment, which is a great thing to do, especially since all of these students will slowly disperse into different lines of work in the near future, all benefiting the world in different, yet essential ways. Students need to show more thanks and appreciation towards the lunch staff, as this year has not been easy, yet they have continually jumped over obstacles to impact students’ lives positively.

There are several different ways that composting can benefit the environment. Composting can help enrich different soil types, eliminating most pests and plant diseases that are often prevalent. Additionally, composting can help reduce the usage and need for chemically-filled fertilizers, which can have a drastic long-term effect on the environment. The most crucial benefit of composting is the reduction of greenhouse gases, specifically methane emissions that sprout in landfills. These emissions hurt the planet, as methane can trap heat within the atmosphere, which adds to the constant growth in climate change worldwide. So, the addition of compostable items and foods is a beneficial step in students’ abilities to take care of the planet.

The most critical part in introducing compost at SPA has been the actions of the lunch staff. Their ability to adapt to the new restrictions of the pandemic is especially shown in both the usage of new types of utensils and items while still putting up informative graphics and photos about various environmentally-oriented topics. With everything going on in the world right now, the ability to shift students’ focus off the pandemic and instead onto other critical global issues, even for a short period of time, helps teach lessons and ideas that they will carry forever.

The ability to provide essential and relevant information about the positives and negatives of compost also helps students understand why it is such a beneficial thing to continue to do to help any living organism and the planet as a whole.

Although the adaption to compost around the world is still not a major talking point, the steps used by the lunch staff at SPA are sure to rub off on students as they graduate from high school and college and make a difference in society.

As the year moves onwards, students must feel obligated to help and maintain the environment by obliging with the posted information. Composting is a straightforward action that will only continue to show positive environmental change. Additionally, students need to show more thanks and appreciation towards the lunch staff. Even after the whole staff was laid off on May 1st due to COVID-19 and the usage of distance learning at SPA, they still came back with positive spirits, ready to learn, adapt, and teach under the worst circumstances.