Organic matter makes up a large portion of our waste, ranging from 30 to 50%. Leaves, grass clippings, food scraps, eggshells, and peels are all materials that can make excellent compost. But is it easy to do? Are you limited by time or space? Is it possible to use these materials in ways other than traditional composting?

Come learn how to turn your fruit and vegetable scraps, plant residues, and other organic matter into compost—simply, efficiently, and easily. Various techniques are available, including home composting, vermicomposting, and the green cone method.

Bring your questions and discover more about making the most of organic materials at home—you’ll see that composting is both useful and very easy to do!

Composting

Every year, a layer of organic matter forms on the forest floor. Fallen leaves, animal droppings, and dead plants and animals accumulate everywhere on the ground. These “wastes” decompose to become humus.

Composting is not a human invention, but an imitation of nature. Composting (controlled decomposition) is learning how to make humus. We mimic what happens in the forest by managing organic matter. Since we cannot let our fruit and vegetable scraps accumulate in our kitchen or all over our yard, we use a special “recipe” (water, air, food) and a compost bin. If we follow the recipe correctly, the result is compost (“brown gold”), a nutrient-rich substance for the soil! Healthy soil nourishes plants, which in turn contribute to our health!

Is your trash can always overflowing? Can it be recycled? Could you make more eco-friendly choices as a consumer? Managing waste can sometimes feel complicated.

This workshop will help you make more informed decisions about waste management to reduce your ecological footprint while also decreasing the amount of waste you produce.

Producing less waste is good for the environment (less transportation, less pollution, fewer greenhouse gas emissions) and also financially beneficial—for you and for municipalities, which can reduce costs related to collection and waste processing in the region.

Topics covered will include the 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover), the different recycling programs available in the region, and tips to further minimize your ecological footprint.

Target Grades: Preschool to Grade 12
Approximate Duration: 45 minutes

During this workshop, students will be introduced to the issues surrounding waste management and will be encouraged to think about the different ways to reduce the waste they produce. They will learn that practicing the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover) is an effective way to generate less waste. Through a hands-on sorting activity of items that may end up in the trash, students will reflect on materials that can be consumed less, reused, recycled, or composted. This will encourage them to become conscious consumers capable of making more informed choices about the products they use.

Target Grades: 3rd to 8th Grade
Approximate Duration: 60 minutes

In this workshop, students will become familiar with nature’s recycling system: composting! By exploring the compost cycle (feeding the soil, which in turn feeds us!) and the soil fauna that work within it, students will reflect on all the ingredients needed for this “recipe.” The main goal is to raise awareness about reducing household waste and the opportunity to divert organic waste to composters instead of the trash. The workshop can focus solely on outdoor home composting or combine it with vermicomposting and the Green Cone biodigester.

A pilot school composting project is offered to schools interested in participating. The CSRNO provides training and composters free of charge to support this initiative.

Target Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 12
Approximate Duration: 60 minutes

During this workshop, students learn how to compost their fruit and vegetable scraps using small red worms. They will even have the unique opportunity to handle the worms firsthand. Classrooms can also receive a worm bin and red worms. Certain conditions apply; please contact us for full details.

Target Grades: 4th to 12th grade
Approximate Duration: 45 minutes (+ travel time)

Students from 4th to 12th grade in the Northwest region can visit the Montagne-de-la-Croix landfill site in the spring (May–June) and in the fall (September–November) on a date scheduled with the project coordinator. The visit is preceded by the “Where Do My Waste Go?” presentation, lasting 45 minutes and delivered in the classroom. This presentation informs students about how a landfill operates, the different types of waste it receives, and actions they can take to reduce waste. An activity booklet is also provided.

The purpose of the visit is to make students aware of the path their waste takes. They will discover all the technical and human logistics required to dispose of waste in a way that minimizes environmental impact. This visit also reinforces learning and connects to environmental themes. Students are invited to explore the landfill environment to understand its operation and reflect on their habits and choices as consumers.