Students from the Sustainability Club are being trained on composting practices in order to bring composting to TJ. photo by Phoebe Briney
Students from the Sustainability Club are working towards creating a more environmentally-friendly community at TJ.
Thomas Jefferson’s Sustainability Club is kicking things into high gear. The club, nicknamed “Sus Club,” was previously called Environmental Club and has shifted to incorporate language and practices used by Colorado’s Youth Sustainability Board.
So what does it mean to be sustainable? To be sustainable, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is using a “method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.” So, in simple terms, sustainability is being conscious of how resources are used. This may seem easy, right? Turn off the lights, unplug electronics that are not being used, do not leave the water running. While all those things are great and do preserve resources, sustainability is so much more complex than that. Sustainability is a crucial aspect of society’s ability to exist and to continue to exist successfully. It is a practice that has been used since civilizations first emerged because self-preservation is human nature and part of self-preservation is the conservation of resources that are necessary for humans to not just exist, but to thrive. Sustainability is the key to the survival of our planet.
That is a lot to take in and it can seem overwhelming when thinking about sustainability on such a large scale. So, it’s easier to talk about sustainability on a smaller more personal level—like the level at which TJ’s Sustainability Club operates. The club has about 30 members and is sponsored by AP Environmental teacher Brett Butera. The club is led by president senior Phoebe Briney, and vice president sophomore Georgia Hartley, as well as a core team composed of students from all grades. The Sustainability Club focuses on making environmentally conscious and sustainable choices at TJ and within the community. Members of the club spend the year working on projects as well as participating in volunteering opportunities in the Denver area. Last year, students volunteered with the Greenway Foundation over Earth Day weekend. They spent the day mulching trees in parks along the South Platte River and picking up trash in the area. “It is so inspiring to see all these kids come together to stand up and act for what they believe in. We are the generation that is going to fight to make these changes,” explained Briney. The club also designs projects with specific goals to improve sustainability at TJ and educate the school on the importance of sustainability. “My generation and the generation before have done a lot of damage to the planet, so it’s our duty to mitigate those damages,” commented TJ Principal Mike Christoff. Sustainability is just as important for TJ as it is for the planet.
TJ is already practicing sustainability within the school. The water bottle fillers that have been installed to help reduce plastic waste from one-time use water bottles have been a huge success. In addition to the fillers, TJ has been utilizing solar panels for over a decade. Even with these practices set in place, the club wants to do even more to practice sustainable habits at TJ. This year, the club has some exciting projects in the works. One project that students are working on is something along the lines of a Meatless Monday. A ton of research has been done on the effects of meat production on climate change. According to an article from the Scientific American, “Red meat such as beef and lamb is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse gas emissions as common vegetables and grains.” Meat production is definitely having a negative impact on our environment. Studies have shown that in order to combat climate change, the world may need to move towards a slightly more vegan diet. Additionally, the club is working on a bike to school/work program. Perhaps the biggest project that the Sustainability Club has in store is composting. “The goal is to get all the kids composting during lunch by the end of the school year,” said Christoff.
According to the Alliance for Climate Education, “Composting transforms waste into a valuable soil amendment, saves space in landfills, saves money on trash disposal, teaches students to be better environmental citizens, and actually helps slow climate change.” Schools all over the country are currently composting in their cafeterias and TJ hopes to be next. Composting has begun behind the scenes in the kitchen and eventually the hope is for students to compost during breakfast and lunch. Bins will be available at lunch in the near future for students to separate what is compostable from what belongs in the trash. These bins will be picked up weekly by the city of Denver’s Solid Waste Management department. Tons of food is wasted by TJ students daily, so this will be a great way for the school to do its part to offset its waste.
In addition to the Sustainability Club’s environmental projects, they are also planning a fundraiser. Soon, TJ Sustainability shirts will be seen around the school and will be available for purchase. A large portion of the proceeds from the shirts will be donated to an organization of the club’s choosing that is combating the planet’s environmental and climate crisis.
The club has one more exciting thing in the works! After finals on Wednesday, December 18, the club will host a recycling drive/school cleanout. Students and teachers can bring papers, school supplies, clothing, and much more to be recycled or reused.
TJ’s Sustainability Club meets every other Wednesday in Butera’s room (120) at lunch. There is always room for anyone who wants to join and the club would love to collaborate with more students who want to make a positive impact at TJ, so stop on by!
