In 2012, the Vermont legislature passed a new law banning all recyclables and compostable materials from entering landfills. All residents and institutions must abide by this new law. Act 148 will go into effect starting in July, 2015. By 2020, all food scraps in addition to recyclables will be banned from landfills.
At Rutland High School, it is our responsibility to accommodate VT Act 148. The environmental club has already started a project to design and build a sorting bin on wheels that will enable students to separate landfill, recyclable, and compostable waste in the cafeteria. In the future, we can expect to have more of these sorting bins created to ensure that organics and recyclables are not unlawfully sent to landfills. Schools like the University of Vermont and Champlain Valley Union High School already organize their waste into different categories. By doing so, they have significantly reduced the total amount of waste that is sent to landfills. Not only are we capable of making these improvements to Rutland High School's sustainability, but we must act now if we are to meet the requirements of state law.