K-12 STEAM Composting Program

Let's Go Compost

K-12 STEAM Composting Program

A STEAM-based composting program equipping K-12 public schools with curriculum, training, and materials to reduce food waste and methane emissions.

Scottsdale, AZ, USA

USA

Nonprofit

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K-12 public schools generate over 530,000 tons of food waste annually, contributing to 1.9 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases (primarily methane) and 20.9 billion gallons of wasted water each year. Despite this, most schools lack the training, infrastructure, and resources to manage food waste effectively, leading to landfill overflow, methane emissions, and lost opportunities for waste reduction education. This issue disproportionately affects Title 1 schools, where funding gaps limit access to waste diversion programs and students lack exposure to STEM-based environmental education. Without intervention, these schools continue to discard thousands of pounds of food waste daily, increasing disposal costs and reinforcing a linear waste system that burdens both communities and the environment. Our STEAM Classroom Composting Program directly addresses these challenges by providing free, structured curriculum, teacher training, and composting materials to schools, integrating food waste reduction into classroom learning. Our solution empowers students to take ownership of waste diversion, advocate for school-wide composting initiatives, and develop skills in resource management, soil science, and the green economy. Scaling our program ensures long-term waste reduction, cost savings for schools, and a future workforce equipped with STEM skills needed for real-world problem-solving.

Our STEAM Classroom Composting Program equips K-12 public schools with the tools, training, and curriculum needed to integrate food waste reduction into daily classroom learning. Schools receive a five-week structured curriculum, physical composting materials, and teacher training to ensure composting becomes a core educational practice, not an extracurricular activity. The program starts small and scales strategically, beginning with one classroom (approximately 50 students), expanding to full grades, and ultimately engaging entire schools and districts. We provide hands-on, STEM-aligned lesson plans that teach waste tracking, decomposition science, soil microbiology, and carbon cycling, ensuring students grasp the real-world impact of waste management. To track success, we use pre- and post-assessments, educator feedback, and digital engagement tools to monitor knowledge retention and composting adoption rates. Schools receive ongoing support through virtual training sessions, resource sharing, and troubleshooting consultations. Beyond individual schools, our model creates a network of educators, municipal leaders, and students driving bottom-up change, influencing district policies and public waste infrastructure. This scalable solution builds lasting institutional change while preparing students for careers in agriculture, land management, and sustainable engineering.

Our solution directly serves K-12 public school students and educators, with a focus on Title 1 schools, which have limited funding, fewer STEM resources, and minimal access to waste reduction programs. These schools often lack the infrastructure, training, and support to manage food waste effectively, leading to increased landfill dependency, higher disposal costs, and missed learning opportunities. Through our STEAM Classroom Composting Program, we provide students with hands-on STEM-based education in waste management, soil science, and resource conservation, all topics rarely included in traditional curricula. Students gain practical skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and environmental responsibility, preparing them for future careers in land management, engineering, and sustainable resource innovation. Educators benefit from structured lesson plans, training, and ongoing support, making composting education easy to integrate into existing science and math curricula. Schools reduce their waste disposal costs and create long-term composting programs that continue after initial implementation. This foundation extends beyond individual schools, fostering a regional network of composting infrastructure that supports local farmers, waste haulers, and soil restoration initiatives. As more schools adopt composting, the demand for trained professionals in waste diversion, soil science, and regenerative agriculture grows, reinforcing a skilled workforce and stronger market for compost-based industries.