Every day, tons and tons of food scraps from our school cafeterias in Loudoun County are thrown away. This is not only a personal concern but also a community issue that affects us all. These food scraps could be composted, turning waste into valuable soil amendment which can be used to enrich the soil in our school gardens or sold to generate funds for school programs.

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30 percent of what we throw away, and could be composted instead. The benefits are numerous - it reduces landfill waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions by reducing methane production at landfills, and creates a nutrient-rich soil additive.

By implementing composting programs in our schools, we can teach students about sustainability while making positive environmental changes right here in Loudoun County. We urge the Loudoun County School Board to take action on this matter as soon as possible.

Please sign this petition if you believe that no food scrap from our schools should go wasted when it could be turned into something beneficial for both our environment and education system.