Based on data from 2014, approximately 30.9% of Wake County high school food waste was made up of compostable organics
Almost a third of our waste could be collected and redistributed for future sustainable use!
These facts and statistics got us thinking: what can we do, through Broughton and the Food Ark, to combat food waste in our school and community?
This led us to our innovation: we plan to implement a composting system at Broughton by partnering with our cafeteria staff and a waste collection service: Food FWD
Food FWD is currently in three Durham County Public Schools and two Wake County public schools, so they have experience working in tandem with WCPSS policy
Broughton students and Food Ark members will work with our cafeteria manager, Lisa Anderson, and the rest of Broughton’s kitchen staff to implement this system in three phases
In the first phase: we will commence composting and collection in back of house, with just waste from the kitchen
This will allow us to do a test run with the staff to avoid contamination and figure out collection and distribution logistics
FOOD FWD offers a staff training service which will be helpful in getting staff and students acclimated to the new composting methods
The second phase will involve student participation and composting at our on-campus eating areas
In this phase, Broughton Food Ark members, and students seeking community service will monitor the compost receptacles, to work with students to prevent contamination
Ultimately, we plan to transition to our third and final phase, with independent student disposal and composting.
More info: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tXz6LL4a94yTT8lk0mFgogmPan9MJLt2i8WuNhf1NZI/edit?usp=sharing
