WasteNot Compost's Liam Donnelly Dreams Big
In this interview about a compost company founder, we learn about how owner Liam Donnelly's family values and habits led him to start a local composting business at age 15, using his bike for transport. He shares how he got the idea and how he ran the business in the early days, as well as touching on interpersonal and supply chain challenges. He also touches on the relative ease of acquiring electric vehicles now compared to when he started decades ago, which may appeal to students who are more interested in that subject than in composting. Teens may also be inspired that he started the company on his own volition and with no previous experience running a business.
This is not an article that teaches information about the effects composting can have on our environment, it is sharing one young man’s story making a difference in his local community of Chicago.
Sloan, W. (2024). WasteNot Compost’s Liam Donnelly Dreams Big. Waste360. https://libproxy.albany.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=8gh&AN=176911639&site=ehost-live
A Teenager's Perspective on Recycling
An 11th grader in North Carolina shares her experiences and perspectives on the lack of recycling in her high school. She debates whether it is apathy or other factors that lead to low rates of correct sorting, such as lack of education about recycling, assumptions that their effort does not matter and the items will go to the landfill anyway, and a lack of consistency between school and home recycling methods.
This is a short article that may give teens a comparison to their own school recycling experiences and may provide ideas about how to help students succeed. However, it may have a limited impact due to its limited scope.
Sophie. (2024, June 12). A Teen’s Perspective on Recycling. Toward Zero Waste. https://towardzerowaste.org/2024/06/12/a-teenagers-perspective-on-recycling/
Compost Regenerates NYC’s Economy, Growing Green Jobs for Young People
Multiple agencies and non-profits collaborate to involve young people in community composting sites in New York City’s five boroughs. This article provides information about the rate of composting in New York, how it is funded, and how teenagers can work their way up in different programs from managing compost piles to event planning. The article includes many relevant links and explanations of how youth jobs in composting benefit the individual and community alike, by reducing the amount of food waste in landfills and by preparing children to become future leaders.
The specific information is relevant only to people who live in NYC, but the concepts can apply to all.
Jenkins, A. (2025, February 26). Compost Regenerates NYC’s Economy, Growing Green Jobs for Young People. The New School Center for New York City Affairs. https://www.centernyc.org/urban-matters-2/compost-regenerates-nycs-economy-growing-green-jobs-for-young-people
Life on a Sustainable Planet: Meet the Eco Teens Who are Learning How to Save the Planet
This article focuses on an interview with two teenagers who ate part of the Eco Teen Action Network. They share what led them to be interested in sustainability and conservation and how it plays out in their daily lives. Teens may be inspired by their commitment as well as guided by the ideas they can use in their own lives, such as attending youth summits and joining high school environmental clubs.
The two high school seniors who are interviewed both attribute their interest in the environment to trips they took, one a summer research trip to the Mediterranean and the other a youth conference summit. These opportunities may not be relateable to all students.
Garcia, O. (2020, December 3). Life on a Sustainable Planet: Meet The Eco Teens Who Are Learning How To Save The Planet. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/earth-optimism/2020/12/03/meet-eco-teens-who-are-learning-how-save-planet/
Worm composting, or vermicomposting, can be a convenient way to process food waste even in small spaces such as apartments. This clear, concise guide from Oregon State University’s extension service provides the basics of how to start a worm composting bin, including what types of worms are needed, where to buy them, how to make a bin, how often to feed the worms, and how the process works.
Students living at home or even college students with their own apartment would have space to begin vermicomposting. It is a fairly foolproof activity and provides quick results so can be a motivating way to begin living more sustainably.
Angima, S., Noack, M., and Noack, S. (2011, October) Composting with Worms. Oregon State University Extension Catalog. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9034-composting-worms
11 documentaries for budding environmentalists
Whatever your mood or purpose, you can find a suitable environment-related documentary on this list. Ranging from exploring the impact of fashion on our planet to a documentary on young activist Great Thunberg to the famous Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore, this list has a wide variety of options that can educate and inspire.
Films are not available directly through this website, they must be streamed elsewhere. Trailers, run times, and summaries are available for each listing. Make sure to pay attention to the rating system which is different than what we use in the U.S., as well as the comments for each film warning of strong language or disturbing images.
British Board of Film Classification. (2021, June 3). 11 documentaries for budding environmentalists. https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/articles/11-documentaries-for-budding-environmentalists