Rainbow Schools take part in compost challenge on January 23rd

Rainbow District School Board is inviting students and staff to compost organic waste on Monday, January 23, 2017.

Schools are challenged to collect a day’s worth of organic waste to reduce refuse in our local landfill sites. Posters will be placed in hallways as reminders and students will watch videos and take part in environmental activities throughout the day.

This Go Green initiative is part of the Environmental Committee’s ongoing efforts to encourage sustainable practices and increase awareness about composting and its ecological advantages.

“Composting is nature’s way of recycling,” says Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Compost returns valuable nutrients to the soil to help maintain soil quality and fertility.”

He adds: “It is important to help students understand what materials are compostable, and the long-term benefits and impact that composting will have on our planet.”

Compost is a mild, slow release, natural fertilizer that does not burn plants like chemical fertilizers. It provides organic matter and nutrients, which improves plant growth and leads to better yields.

Environmental benefits of composting include reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing our dependence on fossil fuels. Composting also limits incineration, which spreads toxic ash waste into the air we breathe.

Rainbow District School Board’s Environmental Committee is issuing monthly challenges to staff and students throughout the school year.

In November, staff and students were invited to go paperless for a day.

What will next month’s challenge be?

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.