This story was compiled from a press release.
When Wilton High School junior Daniel Babashak was challenged by a teacher’s assignment to do something positive for the community, he came up with an idea with a high potential for impact.
“Last year, my English teacher Dr. Harvey asked us each to create a ‘pay-it-forward’ plan which would leave a mark on the community,” Babashak said. “I thought, why not get rid of plastic that ends up in the garbage every school day? For me, the assignment turned into an exciting lesson on public policy, with cost analyses, student interest surveys, and WHS Executive Board presentations.”
His idea was to get the school to switch from using plastic utensils, which are not recycled and contribute to significant waste, to stainless steel utensils for students’ use. Doing so would mean the Wilton High School community could reduce waste and find significant cost savings in the long term by no longer purchasing plastic materials each year.
Babashak collaborated with Wilton Go Green President Tammy Thornton on putting the plan into action. Wilton Go Green has been championing waste reduction initiatives in the Wilton Public Schools starting in 2018 through the organization’s Zero Waste Schools Committee in partnership with district officials.
“Guiding our schools back to using reusable utensils and dishware has been a long-standing [WGG] goal. We are honored to work with Daniel and support this step toward reaching that goal,” Thornton said.
To make the plan a reality, though, meant finding the funding for it. Babashak and Thornton cost out the project: $11,000 for a high-temperature dishwasher; $3,600 to purchase 1,200 forks, spoons and knives for student use; and $5,000 for installation and plumbing costs, dishwasher racks and cutlery bins.
Babashak reached out to State Senator Ceci Maher (D-26) in March to seek funding for the project. She was able to get the request into a piece of legislation assigning hundreds of millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding meant to support local projects in communities across Connecticut. Those funds were set to expire if not allocated, and the legislation was passed as part of the recent legislative session that just ended.
Wednesday afternoon, May 15, Maher joined Thornton, Babashak, Wilton Superintendent Kevin Smith and WHS Principal Robert O’Donnell after school in the WHS cafeteria to celebrate the state’s allotment of $20,000 to install a commercial dishwasher in the school’s kitchen and purchase new dining utensils.
“This community project is evidence that we can find solutions benefitting our communities every day and that everyone can make a difference. Small steps, when taken together, have important consequences,” Maher said. “I’m proud to work with Daniel and support Wilton Go Green’s efforts to continue improving our eco-consciousness locally.”
Pretty impressive Danny that you set your goals high and pulled it all off. I particularly liked how you not only implemented a plan that had a lot of moving parts but were able to work with the State of CT to get it funded.