Star Power: Brody Maggin

Meet Brody Maggin, a 10-year-old Service Star from Montgomery County, Maryland. Brody’s love for nature inspired him to start a composting program at his school. He hopes the program will reduce waste and help the planet. TFK reader Rohan Kasi spoke with Brody about his project.

What is composting?

Composting is when you take food scraps, like banana peels, and put them in a special bin instead of the trash. Over time, the food breaks down into fertilizer that helps plants grow.

How did you get the idea for your composting project?

The idea began when my mom’s dance student had to throw out her banana peel while visiting my house. She asked if I had a compost bin and suggested I start composting at my school. I set up a meeting with my principal. She liked the idea. Later, I helped lead a school assembly to explain the plan.

I’ve always loved animals and nature, and I don’t like seeing litter. I thought composting at school was a great way to make a difference.

What challenges did you face in starting this project?

I found out our school once had a composting program, but it didn’t go well because of bugs. The bins attracted flies and pests. This time, we’re hoping things will go better with sealed bins.

What’s something surprising you’ve learned?

I didn’t know that food waste makes up about 24% of the material in United States landfills. Also, you must be careful about what goes into the compost. One wrong item, like gum or liquid, can slow down the entire process.

What would you tell another kid who wants to do something like this?

Learn as much as you can, talk to a teacher or principal, and get your friends involved. Working as a team makes it easier. Composting might seem like a small thing, but if everyone does it, we can make a big difference for the planet.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.