COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You may already recycle your bottles and cans, but one Columbus school has started a program to recycle food scraps as well.

Beginning next fall, Columbus Academy’s students will compost food scraps left over from lunch, NBC 4’s Marshall McPeek reported.

“We have a great recycling program with paper, so it only made sense to expand upon that…” Rich Bracken, Columbus Academy student council president, explained.

The students found the design for their compost pile on the internet. As the food and yard waste break down, they’ll turn into top soil, McPeek reported.

“It will very quickly start to decompose,” Joe Goicochea, an environmental specialist with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), told NBC 4. “In a matter of 30 to 60, maybe 90 days, you’re going to have a product that you can put back on your property.”

Anything that comes from ground can be composted, even some plastics, McPeek reported. The Ohio EPA requires a license and registration for commercial composting bins, but there is no paperwork required for home projects.

The school hopes composting will save some money.  At the very least, the science teachers now have instant, natural lessons.

Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.

Check out these links for more information on composting:
The Columbus Academy
Ohio EPA Food Scrap Management and Composting Information
SWACO Composting Centers