Helping the Environment is All Around Us in Haddam and Killingworth

Submitted by Emily Milcent, Linda Talbott and Andree Pias

(April 15, 2023) — Students in Environmental Science at Haddam-Killingworth High School have been working on year-long projects that are aimed at bettering the environment. One group in particular focused on composting and reducing the amount of waste in our schools. This group was able to travel to Burr Elementary School in November where they talked with students about how to separate their food scraps from their trash. The students found that about half the waste accumulated during a lunch period could be used for composting. Students also got hands-on experience in creating their own compost pile at the school. Using food scraps brought in from home, students in the class learned how to set up a compost pile that will be used in the Horticulture class’s raised beds and gardens. As these classes continue to develop, the hope is for them to continue to work together in composting and returning the nutrients back to the soil.

Haddam residents have been participating in a Food Scrap Diversion program since December 8, 2021, a program initiated by the  Haddam Sustainability Committee. Residents bring their food scraps to the Haddam Transfer Station and dump them into bins supplied by Hartford-based Blue Earth Compost, which has a contract with the town to then bring the scraps to Quantum Biopower. 

Quantum is an anaerobic digester based in Southington and is able to convert food scraps into compost and create biogas using the methane by-product.  In this process, Quantum then supplies electricity for the town of Southington.  Since December of 2021, Haddam residents have removed 58,680 pounds or 29.34 tons of food waste from the Municipal Solid Waste. Sustainability Committee volunteers also collect food waste from the Senior Center luncheons.  

Townspeople have donated funds to cover the cost of about 150 starter kits which can be used by residents if they wish, but any container to carry their food scraps to the transfer station can be used. The committee is in the process of ordering more kits and they should be replenished soon at the Town Office Building. 

Fourth and fifth grade members of the Green Club at Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School are spreading the word!  The Green Club was launched this school year with the goal of making HKIS more eco-friendly. In its initial meeting, students identified areas of concern and brainstormed solutions to address these problems.  

The club’s first goal was to educate students and staff about ways to recycle.  After gathering information through research, students made signs identifying what can and can’t be recycled and posted them in classrooms, pods and the cafeteria.  The fourth and fifth graders also spoke to classes about recycling and shared information in the morning announcements.  

The club was fortunate to welcome some guest speakers.   Beekeeper Helen Hastings engaged students with information about the important role of honeybees. Students were able to observe the hexagonal shape of honeycomb cells and learned how to help honeybees thrive.   Master Gardener Roslyn Reeps shared information about pollinator gardens.  Ms. Reeps spoke to the club about the value of pollinators in our food supply and how native plants provide shelter and food for the pollinators.  Ms. Reeps guided students in planting seedlings with seeds provided by the UConn Agricultural Extension Center in Haddam.  Club members started pots of milkweed and butterfly weed that they hope to plant as the weather warms.

The club continues to share the message of sustainability with the school.  In the April town meeting, club members reminded the student body that Earth Day is April 22, 2023.  They presented ways we can all help our earth by reducing, reusing and recycling.