WasteWise

By Nate Sollars & Ronan Zweifler

Project Description

This project created two waste bins to encourage proper waste disposal. One is to divert commingled recycling and the other to capture food scraps from Hastings High School's waste stream. We donated the tools we purchased for the project to the school's robotics team, which will enable the team to enhance their robots and strengthen the school's mechanical department. We were able to meet some of our goals and develop new ones that were accomplishable within our time frame. We worked and planned on our project over the course of three months, and achieved most of what we set out to do.

Outputs

2 trash bins created and painted.
4 sets of spray paint donated to the community center.
1 set of Ryobi tools donated to the school robotics team.
1 can crusher installed.

Outcomes

As a result of our bins, the school will have the opportunity to easily sort their trash from their recycling which will allow gardeners to use food waste for compost more effectively.
As a result of the tools we have donated, the school's robotics team has access to high powered equipment that they would otherwise not have, which will allow them to enhance their robots and strengthen their mechanical department.
As a result of our paint donation, art clubs based at the community center will have more resources and a new artistic medium to explore the members of their club.

Process

First we applied for the grant and set out on a plan.
After receiving the grant we bought materials for the first phase of the project.
After we bought the materials we designed a trash box and built it.
After building the second one, we painted both of them and talked to the school about getting them implemented.
After finishing with the materials, we donated to clubs and community facets who needed them.

Lessons Learned

We learned that large scale independent projects were challenging to plan and execute effectively.
We learned that the school's routine is very rigid and new accommodations should be accounted for before the execution of a plan.
We learned that the school already had a thriving gardening community for us to aid.