School is out for summer, but the Board of Education and Deputy Mayor Lou Manchello are already thinking about fall — and food.
Along with school administrators, facilities employees and other staff, they plan to expand waste disposal options in district schools. Eligible organic matter will become compost, from food waste to used paper plates.
The Food Recycling Pilot Program has become possible because in March the municipality received a $10,000 grant for the environmental project, according to Township Manager Jack Layne, who supports the proposal and believes it could improve the future.
“It’s something that’s very timely and very critical,” Layne said.
Provided the Township Council allows the use of the $10,000 on the green effort, the project will begin in September.
The grant came from Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit that supports communities that commit to increasing their sustainability through green programs, with tools, training, financial incentives and certifications provided by the organization.
Manchello said he is confident that once the project has been fully developed and presented to the council, the money will be used for the food composting program. He said development is almost completed.
Having seen the results of other composting projects, Manchello believes the effort is not only environmentally beneficial, but also more cost-effective.
“That’s the idea of sustainability,” he said. “To do things in a sustainable way in terms of the environment and cost.”
Manchello said an outside composting company potentially will be involved.
Composting could reduce fees related to the transportation of garbage from district schools to landfills, according to Manchello.
The district hopes to see that effect, said Chuck Kauffman, school board president and a township green team member.