Students in 8th-grade have decided to focus on two areas: recycling and composting. They had completed some initial research into the life cycle of materials, process of recycling and various methods of composting. We are started from the broad perspective of gathering information and data and will continue to narrow our focus to the possible actions that can be implemented at the McGillis School (i.e.: on-site composting vs. take-away service, multiple-stream recycling, etc.).
The week before winter break, 8th-graders collected data on how much waste the school produces from our lunch room (unbeknownst to the student body so that we captured normal behavior). They weighed both the liquid and solid waste over a three-day period tracking variables such as date, menu, type of waste (solid or liquid) and middle school vs. lower school. Note the table below:
| December 13, 2011 | December 14, 2011 |
| Menu: mac’n’cheese, greenbeans | Menu: potato cheese soup, crackers |
| Lower School liquid waste: 25 lbs | Lower School liquid waste: 17 lbs |
| Lower School solid waste: 32 lbs | Lower School solid waste: 27 lbs |
| Middle School liquid waste: 2 lbs | Middle School liquid waste: 7 lbs |
| Middle School solid waste: 5 lbs | Middle School solid waste: 25 lbs |
| December 15, 2011 |
| Menu: quesadillas, rice |
| Lower School liquid waste: 8.5 lbs |
| Lower School solid waste: 21 lbs |
| Middle School liquid waste: 9 lbs |
| Middle School solid waste: 12 lbs |
Students in 8th-grade are partnering with 3-grade to process the data as a table and graph. We met with them and worked through the variety of formats that could be used to view the same information. The next step is to inform the student body that we want to beat the previous 'weigh-ins' and measure the liquid and solid waste in the next few weeks. We will then compare the changes.
Check back for more information as we continue to gather information and look for possible solutions on our path to recycling and composting sustainability.
