After sorting through piles of cafeteria trash for half an hour, one Oyster River Middle School (ORMS) 5th grader was overheard saying, “If I were to describe how I felt in emojis, it probably would be smiling and then also BARFING.”
He was reflecting on his experience with Trash on the Lawn, an event that took place on Friday, 9/20. The event was running for the third year in a row, devised from an effort to change the student connections with the composting system present in schools.
It’s no secret that Oyster River High School (ORHS) is struggling with effective composting. The ORHS Sustainability Club has spent a few years designing ways to make the students aware of the composting system, especially in the ORHS cafeteria.
So, the sustainability club decided to start laying the foundation young. Sustainability Club member Ainsley Beaupre (’25) said, “Younger generations are the future… if they make habits early it will be so beneficial later.” Beaupre is describing the critical idea that led to the creation of Trash on the Lawn.
For the past 3 years, ORMS 5th grade students have participated in an event where they’re tasked with sorting piles of cafeteria trash into the correct 3 bins; trash, recycling, and compost. From there, they listen to a presentation by ORHS Sustainability Club members about the importance of making the right choices when sorting their trash.
These piles of trash come from two days of collection in the ORMS cafeteria, so the 5th graders are understandably shocked when they see what their classmates have been throwing away. 5th grade teacher Sara O’Brien said, “The big shock this year was how many reusable plastic containers were in the trash from two days, metal silverware in the landfill… and a lot of food waste, completely unopened packages of food, which they were worried could have been eaten.”
The 5th graders had some experience with the sorting system if they came from Oyster River School District elementary schools, but it wasn’t until they saw it laid out in front of them that they realized why the system is so important.
Once they saw the problem, they became very careful about making the correct choices. Beaupre recalls watching the students through the sorting process. “Some of them know a lot; they would answer correctly most of the time. But they got really good at asking instead of just guessing if they didn’t know. Popsicle sticks was a big one,” she said.
After the sorting took place outside, the 5th graders returned to class for a presentation about why learning the correct system matters. Caitlin Lynch (’25) was one of the presenters. She said, “I think it’s at the right age level. The information is easily digestible for sure.” The 5th graders not only understood the information but could connect it to their observations outside, after learning that one third of all food produced in the United States is never eaten.
“I was surprised how much everyone already knew. I asked how many people had gardens or composting systems, and so many hands shot up. It’s crazy, since I definitely didn’t know so much as a 5th grader,” Lynch said.
Trash on the Lawn served as a kickoff to the ORMS 5th grade sustainability unit. Now, they’re a week into learning about sustainability and how it relates to the features of the building and community. O’Brien said, “It’s so beneficial to have it at the beginning of the year. They respect the building and have gratitude for everything in it.”
Following Trash on the Lawn, the 5th graders had presentations throughout the week relating to sustainability and the environment. Revision Energy visited to talk about solar power and geothermal energy. The local Cowasuck band of the Pennacook-Abenaki people spoke about the natural location and respecting those who have lived here longest. The unit closed with information about water conservation in the building.
According to O’Brien, Trash on the Lawn shouldn’t go away. “We’re trying to track data every year. I would love to take that information and get a waste audit in the future, to see if it’s actually having any impact. [But] we haven’t made it that far yet.”
The ORHS Sustainability Club is also hopeful for the future impact, especially at the high school level. Lynch said, “In a couple years, these kids will be at the high school. Hopefully they’ll have a good understanding and good habits, so the cycle will continue to teach itself.”
– Amelia Rury
image courtesy of Gen Brown, Director of Communications
Mouth of the River 
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