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On a normal school day, the amount of trash collected during lunches at Gates and Central Elementary buildings filled anywhere from 16 to 20-plus bags from each school. These days, it takes two to four bags to collect the lunchroom trash at each building.

What's different? Both schools have begun composting programs.

"By collecting four 64-gallon bins of compostable material each week — at approximately 275 lbs. per bin — we divert 1,100 lbs. of waste per week per building, totaling 48,400 lbs. (24.2 tons) annually," computed James Emmerling, the district's Science and Health Coordinator. "This effort has a measurable environmental impact: by keeping organic material out of landfills, we prevent an estimated 44,528 lbs. of CO₂e from entering the atmosphere each year. In doing so, students do more than understand sustainability—they contribute directly to climate mitigation."