📰Dayton | Consolidated School Launches Student-Led Composting Program to Reduce Waste and Build Environmental Stewardship

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer

February 10, 2026, Dayton Consolidated School (DCS) officially launched its new composting program last Friday with a school-wide assembly, marking an important step forward in the school’s commitment to sustainability, hands-on learning, and environmental responsibility.

Dayton Consolidated School students participate in an interactive recycling and composting presentation during a school-wide assembly by EcoMaine, learning how to properly sort materials as part of the school’s newly launched composting program. Pictured are Ryan Nicoletti (grade 2), Weston Gerding (grade 2), and Desmond Gallagher (grade 2).

To kick off the initiative, students were joined by Crusher, the Maine Celtics mascot, who led a 45-minute interactive assembly on proper recycling and composting practices. The assembly included hands-on activities that allowed students to practice sorting materials correctly—an important foundation for the program’s long-term success.

Led by Physical Education and STEM Teacher Jill Keimach, the composting initiative is closely integrated into classroom STEM instruction, ensuring students understand not only how to compost, but why it matters. Through a partnership with EcoMaine, students will receive age-appropriate education on recycling, composting, and waste reduction—skills they can carry beyond the classroom and into their homes and community.

The program is designed to be student-driven, with learners taking on daily roles and responsibilities such as sorting compostable materials, monitoring collection bins, and supporting proper disposal during lunch periods. Adult staff will provide guidance and oversight, making the effort a true team endeavor across the school community. Compost collected through the program will be shared with local farms and families on a first-come, first-served basis, and the program will work alongside Dayton Town Hall to establish a community sign-up process.

Crusher, the Maine Celtics mascot, works with students during a hands-on recycling activity as Erika Schaper from EcoMaine provides real-life examples—including an egg carton—to help students determine whether items should be recycled or composted.

“By putting students at the center of this work, we’re teaching responsibility, problem-solving, and care for the environment all at once,” said Kim Sampietro, Principal of Dayton Consolidated School. “Our goal is for composting to become part of the everyday culture at DCS—not just something we do once, but a habit we practice daily to help our planet.”

Composting programs in schools play a key role in reducing landfill waste. According to environmental experts, food scraps and organic materials make up a significant portion of school waste, and composting helps divert this material from landfills, where it would otherwise contribute to methane emissions. Instead, composting returns nutrients to the soil, supports healthier ecosystems, and reinforces real-world science concepts for students.

Crusher, the Maine Celtics mascot, works with students during a hands-on recycling activity as Erika Schaper from EcoMaine provides real-life examples—including an egg carton—to help students determine whether items should be recycled or composted.

The initiative also aligns with the Dayton School Department’s broader sustainability efforts, including its investment in electric school buses through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. Electric buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions, operate more quietly, and offer lower long-term maintenance costs compared to diesel buses—further demonstrating Dayton’s commitment to cleaner, greener solutions that benefit both students and the wider rural community.

“This is just the beginning,” added Keimach. “With practice, teamwork, and student leadership, we’re showing kids that not all food waste belongs in the trash—it can be reused to support the Earth.”

As the program grows, DCS plans to continue expanding student leadership roles and integrating composting concepts into science and sustainability lessons throughout the school year.