Focus the Nation

We have participated in Focus the Nation, a nationwide teach-in about environmental issues since it began. During it, we have educational presentations in the auditorium that are open to the school. Last year, we had a panel on GMO's as well as many presentations about environmental issues, such as polar bears and climate change.

Bottle Bill

Some of our members have been working on writing letters to state legislators to pass a bottle bill. This bill would add a 5 cent surcharge to plastic and glass bottles purchased, which would be refunded upon returning them for recycling. This would help to reduce waste in landfills.

Invasive Species Reduction

We have worked with the environmental science class in an effort to eliminate invasive species in the Como ecosystem. We do this through two main events per year, the Buckthorn Bust and Garlic Mustard Pull, where we remove invasive species from the woods around Como.

Energy Waste Reduction

Over the past three years, we have focused on reducing energy waste at Como. We have done this through a variety of methods. One way we have done this was to outfit each classroom with power strips to eliminate phantom power from TVs and computers. We have been working with the district to implement suggestions from an energy audit of Como. We are also planning to have another energy wars, to see which high school can use the least electricity.

Food Waste Recycling

We started the food recycling program in the 2008-2009 school year. At lunch, there is a designated container for food waste. Student service volunteers spend lunch time making sure that there are no milk cartons, plastic or paper products in the food waste bin. This waste is then sent to local farmers as feed for their pigs.

Welcome

Welcome to the Como Park Environmental Club website! We are a student run group that meets on Thursdays after school at 2:15 in Ms. Kahn's room. Our main concerns are spreading awareness of environmental issues, educating staff and students about ways they can reduce waste and conserving the environment.

Some of our main projects are:

• Food recycling
• Passing a bottle bill
• Reducing energy waste
• Educating people about environmental problems

Check back regularly on this site for updates, events and news from Como Park's Environmental Club.