Alaska Dispatch

It's a smelly, messy job, but some of teacher Scott McKim's students have decided they're up to the task. Welcome to the world of composting 101.

The group of sixth, seventh and eighth graders are on a mission to reduce the amount of uneaten food and packaging waste accumulated at Begich Middle School. Developed by McKim's after-school leadership class, the environmentally-minded group has launched a project that could, if all goes well, turn compostable trash into cash. But money isn't the goal.

This semester, McKim's student club, PACE, rolled out a new composting system at the school. During lunch, club members staff a collection station where students deposit food items and cardboard trays. To help encourage schoolwide buy-in, students who add to the compost pile are given a raffle ticket, and at the end of the project one lucky compost participant will win a digital camera.

After leaving the lunchroom, the leftovers are mixed with shredded office paper from the school, sawdust from an applied technology classroom, and manure from one school staff member's horse farm, McKim said.

The final mixture is then wheeled out to an outdoor compost bin, where, over the course of about four weeks, "microbes work their magic," he said.

The project integrates everything McKim loves about teaching: science, math, and watching students engage their community.

Finished compost may make its way into plant growth studies and a school garden, and possibly be sold at a school fundraiser.

"The entire philosophy of the composting efforts pioneered by the students is to spread an environmental ethic amongst the student body and to reduce our landfill footprint while making a very useful product," McKim said.

The PACE club tackles projects that improve life at the school and benefit the community. Last year, club members raised money to build a well and latrine at a school in Uganda.

The composting project is funded through about $6,000 in grant money, which helps pays for supplies and other expenses.

Contact Jill Burke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Contact Stephen Nowers at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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