Schools include composting in curriculum to teach students to reduce waste

1 2 Pune: Reduce, reuse, and recycle is more than just a catchy slogan in schools. Currently, schools across the city are leading the way by using in-class vermicomposting as a tool to teach students about the environment. Big recycling bins are now an important element in several classrooms.

Outside school cafeterias, there are tall bins for dumping food waste. When these tall bins are full, a volunteer crew of older students picks them up, deposits the food waste, recyclable garbage from classrooms as well as dry leaves from trees on the campus in a specially designed vermicomposting pit. Every year, a new batch of students takes up the reins of vermicompost unit in schools.



In many schools, parents and teachers buy the compost. Recognising the importance of teaching students practical ways to reduce waste, school administrations in the city have integrated composting into the curriculum. School representatives said that the goal was to create a living laboratory where students could learn the science behind composting while actively participating in the process.

Aswathi Nair, the teacher in charge at The Orbis School, Mundhwa, said, "Teachers guided the students about the basics of composting and encouraged them to bring compostable waste from home. The collected greens were added to the compost under the expert guidance of the school gardener." Students regularly turn the compost pile to ensure proper aeration, which is essential for the decomposition process.

They also monitor the moisture levels, temperature, and progress of decomposition. With the compost ready for use, the students and teachers decided to take the project a step further by selling the finished product. They packaged the nutrient-rich compost into eco-friendly bags, which were labelled with information about the benefits of compost and instructions for its use in gardening.

The sales event was a huge success as buyers were impressed with the quality of compost and the enthusiasm of students. Kavita Rajouri, who trains school nature clubs on composting, said, "This hands-on activity instils a sense of responsibility in students towards the environment. It fosters teamwork in them as they work together to maintain compost bins and monitor progress.

" Shri Balaji English Medium School in Bibwewadi has been using the compost generated from pits for their campus. School principal Ashwini Mehendale, said, "Every batch adopts one pit on an annual basis. We have a total of 14 pits.

So, there is competition among them to maintain the pits in the best possible way. So that itself is highly motivating for students. The outcome is very satisfying.

" At Lakshmibai English Medium School in Swargate, principal Sharada Raut said, "The composting pit in our school was set up 10 years ago by an alumnus who learned the process at a workshop. She needed space, so we offered her the space. Since then, the composting has been on autopilot mode with waste being segregated and dumped in the pits with regular maintenance.

The manure received from the project is sold to parents of students studying in the school.".