Working with worms outside classroom

Primary school student Nur Sabrina Nuzul Shaiful used to feel uneasy when she saw earthworms squirming in soil. However, she has now grown comfortable handling them for her school’s composting project. Nur Sabrina has learned that worms have many benefits for the environment, such as improving soil fertility and repairing damaged soil. The SK Seri Perling 2 school has been involved in vermicomposting since 2021, where they convert food scraps from their canteen into compost. They fill up a worm bin with a mix of food scraps and bedding made from dried leaves.

The materials in the bin are periodically loosened so that they can decompose into compost over time. This compost is then used as fertilizer for the school’s vegetable and fruit garden. Nur Sabrina shared her experience during an interview with StarMetro at the school in Taman Perling, Johor Baru. Another student, Ahmad Imran Aidzil Nawal, also enjoys composting and getting his hands dirty. He particularly enjoys explaining the composting process to other students and guests at the school. Ahmad Imran is fascinated by the Takakura composting method, which uses only boxes and is suitable for residents in high-rise buildings.

Headmistress Haliza Jufri explained that the composting project initially started as a solution to the abundance of dried leaves in the school’s compound. They wanted to find ways to prevent waste and open burning and realized that the dried leaves and food waste could be transformed into organic compost. The project also aims to raise environmental awareness among the students. Haliza mentioned that the composting center, as well as the vegetable and fruit garden, serve as valuable learning tools for the students.

Haliza further explained that the students’ direct involvement in planting various crops, such as herbs, padi, kangkung, tomatoes, lemongrass, and pineapple, has encouraged them to consume more fruits and vegetables. The composting project received a RM20,000 grant from Iskandar Puteri City Council through its Iskandar Puteri Low Carbon Community Grant program. This grant was used to construct the composting center. In the subsequent year, the school received another RM11,000 grant from the same program to purchase a larger leaf crusher to produce a greater quantity of compost.

Thanks to the composting project, the school has been able to divert 5kg of food scraps from the canteen away from landfills on a weekly basis. Haliza mentioned that the school’s next focus is to conduct research and development so that they can eventually market their compost and generate income for the school.