School cafeterias are a hectic place. One very popular movie even likens the environment to a jungle – and they aren’t far off. Kids bustling around, laughing, eating, probably throwing things at each other when they shouldn’t. Each is involved in their own micro-social circle – they don’t pay attention to much else. Especially what’s going into the garbage. But one 10-year-old student at Salters Point Elementary did. And what she saw shocked her.
“Whenever I looked at the trash in the cafeteria or watched a kid put away their tray, I saw practically whole lunches’ worth of food being thrown away,” says Sophia Weatherwax. And she decided to do something about it.
‘Waste That Still Has Taste’ Project at Salters Point Elementary School
Sophia didn’t waste time – she says she wanted to do something about it because “food waste is still waste. And also because some people in the world really need food right now, but other people are throwing away food that could save someone else’s life.”
She decided to do a poster that she could post in the cafeteria with the slogan, “Waste That Still Has Taste.” “I thought a poster is something fun that a kid could look at and it would catch their eye,” she says on why she went that route. “I put facts to help kids learn about what is going on and not just how to fix it, to show the problem before showing the solution.”
Her mother supports her daughter and her project. “I am incredibly proud of my daughter for not only recognizing that there was an issue but for taking action to do something about it,” shares Angie Weatherwax. “It’s easy to feel frustrated when we see waste or environmental issues around us, but taking that extra step to turn that frustration into action shows real dedication.”
The kids at her school reacted well. “My friends thought it was cool to help the environment, some wanted to help join in by making their own pictures,” Sophia says.
But Sophia doesn’t plan on stopping here. She believes environmentalism is important. “We only have one earth and that one earth only provides us with a certain amount of food before we overstep our boundaries,” she says. “If we do that, we might lose what provides us with everything.”
She plans on making a poster for her new school’s cafeteria when she moves to middle school next year. And maybe even starting an environmental group with other students.
Her mom says she tries to lead by example at home. “At home, we try to focus on the idea that small choices matter,” says Angie. “We use dish rags instead of paper towels, cloth napkins, reusable sandwich bags, and glass containers instead of disposable plastics. I worked in the environmental field, and one of the biggest lessons I learned is that meaningful change often starts with simple everyday habits. Watching my daughter take initiative reminds me that positive change begins when people are willing to care, speak up, and take action, even in small ways.”
When not working on green projects, Sophia plays fastpitch, is learning guitar and enjoys riding her scooter.
All it takes is one person with a dream to make a difference. No matter their age, no matter how small the change. It all matters.
