To the Editor:

As we are in full back-to-school mode, I want to thank the school board and PPS district staff for adding a composting collection to their waste contract in all of the public schools in Princeton. I am happy to know that my child can compost at home and now at school. Providing composting in schools also allows for a natural educational component as the next generation learns how to take care of their community and environment. This new composting program will hopefully be rolled out some time this fall.

If you have not already joined the residential curbside organics collection, it’s not too late. Since being part of this program for the past two years, my family and I have significantly reduced our landfill contribution, and we only need to put our trash out once a month. You can still compost on your property, but this program greatly expands the amount of things you can compost like all food scraps, dirty paper and pizza boxes, and yard waste. Additionally this summer, we were also able to use some of the beautiful free compost that was brought back from the curbside program to fill our garden beds. I encourage all of my fellow residents to try this program. It is easy to sign up and participate and you will never look at waste the same way again. Go to: www.princetonnj.gov/organic/CurbsideOrganics.html.

I also want to thank Sustainable Princeton and the municipality for working together to get recycling bins in Hinds Plaza and on Nassau Street. That is a great step! In the near future, I hope to see additional businesses in Princeton joining in with the residential and school recycling/composting programs so that Princetonians can be responsible stewards of their waste all around!

Stephanie Chorney

Co-Chair Green Schools Coalition/Sustainable Princeton