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In 2023, the group conducted a waste audit at the High School and found that the building was producing about 54 pounds of waste each day, adding up to 270 pounds each week. 

Since then, the club has presented their findings and recommendations at multiple Board of Education meetings, advocating for important changes—like installing dishwashers throughout the District. With support from the Town of Marbletown Environmental Conservation Commission, they have been able to strengthen their advocacy and make a real impact, including by initiating a composting program at the High School. In less than three months, the club diverted 1,260 pounds of food waste from the High School cafeteria. 

Superintendent of Schools Paul Spadaro shares that student voices played a major role in some of the key projects in the proposed Capital Project. “By incorporating student feedback, we've ensured that the projects not only address our infrastructure needs, but also reflect what matters most to our students,” he said. “Adding dishwashers would significantly reduce waste and create lasting benefits for Rondout Valley and future students.” 

Environmental Club Advisor and Rondout Valley High School Science Teacher Krista Sheehan shares what the club has been up to this year. “We are focusing on being able to attend the Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (YESS) at the Ashokan Center at the end of February,” she said. YESS, she explained, is a global climate leadership event aimed at empowering young people to drive change in their lives and communities through climate resilience. “I feel that this annual event would provide a great opportunity for our students and home in on our next big project,” she added. 

The club is also continuing to look into the recycling system in the High School, with hopes of creating informational pamphlets and fliers to raise awareness of environmental issues within the Rondout Valley community.