That can be a tough sell because many people prefer to believe folklore and myth rather than the truth. Some people may have experienced someones attempt at composting that resulted in a trash heap rather than a compost heap which will also color their response. That reliance on myth is why many local units of governments and HMA's prohibit composting.
Check at Cornell Composting to see if there is anything to use that might convince these people to change their minds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Composting

The custodial staff is making educational decisions? By all means give the custodian the facts about a well-tended compost pile (we've had compost piles with vegetable scraps for over 10 years and have never had rodents). Even point out that composting cardboard and paper will make his job easier.
If push comes to shove, let the administration (whom I presume has given permission for the compost pile) handle his objections. You are doing a good thing, both educationally and ecologically, so stick to your guns!

And, if all else fails, consider a classroom worm bin. I made a neat one for my nephew in a see-through, acrylic, health store-type, bulk food dispenser. I've seen a worm bin in an aquarium, too.
The downside is that the worms can't handle much feedstock.

If vermin is already an issue at the school, adding a compost pile will not likely add to the problem. But saying it (vermin) can't happen is unrealistic.

Our rats seem to be cyclical, several years nothing, then one year they're around. I have had rats (2 and I got 'em both) get into a windrow once in four years of having larger exposed (not in a tumbler) piles. I see mice more often but we have mice everywhere.

My solution would be to make a deal to remove all the composting materials if rodents do become an issue. I'd also line the inside of the pallets with a 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Barring that, I'd find a sponsor to supply a couple of tumblers. (or get a {{gwi:314603}})

Lloyd

P.S. For those that couldn't grasp the hyperbole, I was joking about the kitty.

Rexa, the Bergen County Utilities Authority sponsors the sale of compost bins (cost is really high, Monmouth didn't charge that much) and demos (there is one this coming Saturday). Give them a call at the number at the link to see if you can get any supporting information to discuss with the custodians. Also, add the ideas here on lining the bins or getting tumbler donations.

Sheesh.

Our open compost pile has not attracted any rats, to my knowledge. But, we compost mostly shredded tree leaves, sunflower stalks, raspberry canes, and garden refuse like tomato vines. When I add watermelon rinds and halloween pumpkins, I see evidence of squirrels visiting the pile, and sampling these items. They also go for corn cobs. If I were going to set up a pile at a school, I think I would use a wire cage type construction. This would help keep the small animals out, and it would also allow the students to see into the pile better. If you can get access to shredded tree leaves, you can cover any vegetable and/or fruit, and make the pile less interesting to animals.

Rats are typically more of an issue in urban areas. Their populations tend to be pretty high in these areas under normal circumstances and any additional food sources can become appealing attractions.

But that doesn't necessarily mean I suggest you forgo the composting operation if the school is located in a pretty urban area :-) You've gotten some pretty good advice already on how to make the pile less appealing or less accessible. I'd use the construction of a good, strong, rodent-proof compost bin as a class project. One other tip is to consider fermenting food waste (Bokashi) before adding it - just collect and store in those lidded 5 gallon buckets that are so common with food prep services/school cafeterias. Rats apparently find the aroma of fermented veggies and scraps unappealing and will steer clear.

Here is a link that might be useful: rats and compost

Hooray for you!

I knew there was trouble as soon as you said the janitor answered your question with a question. That type of person needs to be 'handled'. The good news, if you succeed, he will be an asset. I don't know if you can get him warmed up to the idea, but it is worth trying.

You might have to start your compost with leaves and grass as a demonstration. Once you get that going, you can start adding the food waste.

You are going to need a good supply of 'browns'. Shredded leaves are best.

Good luck.

Well, Good Luck. I just retired a few years ago from a school district where I had 25 custodians working for me. I can certainly see both sides of the story. We had a rather large nature area with raised beds, outdoor classroom, pond, butterfly garden, etc., and yes, a compost pile. From the custodians perspective...additional work from this project just kept growing and growing. Everyone had great ideas, but in many cases people lost interest and the work for the custodians remained. If you go up against a custodian you will eventually loose. I suspect that you already realize this. However, In my opinion, a custodian should never question a teacher about her lesson plans. I suppose that the school principal would be the person to make this call. I suggest that you do an enclosed tumbler type composter and a worm farm in your classroom. This might be more educational for the childred and would take the custodian out of the picture. By the way, we had a large compost bin and by the end of the summer it became unmanageable due to all of the weeds, brush and junk that was thrown into it. Just a thought.

I assume you already have approval from someone higher-up the ladder than the custodians? Like the school principal? If so then the custodian's objections should not be an issue. Try to keep the custodians out of the process. They could pile up the paper/cardboard/food waste and you oversee the management of the compost, not the custodians.

But I would follow the other suggestions already given re: rodent-proofing the bins and would arm myself with reliable information and documentation in print.

Karen

You could always tell him that the skunks and bears that come to dine on the compost will probably scare the rats away.

Something tells me that might not be the best answer.

BTW, the rodents are there because of the school cafeteria. The janitors know this. They have probably been trying to control the rodents already.

To help them with rodent control, you might consider getting a feral cat from the local cat rescue organization. Obviously, you'll want one that was fixed.

Feed the cat outdoors, by the compost bin. If the compost bin is away from the building, it will serve as 'bait' for the rodents, drawing them out into the open, and the cat will do the rest.

That sort of thing is going on where I work. We have a cafeteria, and the company supports a feral cat feeding program. The cats are fixed and identified by putting a notch in one of their ears. Volunteers feed the cats at a cat feeding station way out by the pond, but the cats hang out near the dumpster at the back at the cafeteria.

Thats sad that he isn't on board your school has a garden it mud be pretty green friendly lots of good suggestions on here I suppose a tumbler would take care of there concerns I realize there is no budget for it is there maybe a gardening group or somebody that would have interest in a donation?
Take it easy on the janitor though they really get dumped on and are going to be upset with more work to do

If rats are a problem in urban areas then the people that compost in the New York City community gardens must be really lucky since they do not see them in those gardens, all over everywhere else but not around or in the compost bins in the community gardens.
Compost does not attract vermin unless there is a problem with the construction of the pile.

thanks for all the follow ups! the custodians have the last word on just about everything that gets done in the school and are always the last hurdle (paper recycling took 3 years, garden 5) as they really are the ones tasked with cleaning up the mess the kids leave behind....
couple of questions:
1. one poster suggested i pre-ferment the waste in my classroom with a bokashi mix- does this really not attract pests
2. in the winter we will have no "greens" aside from the vegetable waste my classroom produces (i.e. no grass). are their other non-food based greens i can add?
3. how stinky does bokashi get? and, if i keep it in my classroom, will its essence prevail?

thanks all again, you are a terrific help! (i'm so glad i found this site!)

Compost doesn't necessarily attract vermin, but if vermin are present, I probably would not use a pallet bin composter or other open type bin.

You could use one of those completely contained fabricated compost bins, that are specifically made to keep out rodents. They aren't free... but it is an alternative for composters who live in rodent prone areas.

I hope the compost area will be as far from the building as reasonably possible. A good 50-100 feet would be nice.

For him to say they already have mice so there shouldn't be a compost pile, shoots a hole in his own argument.

You should have asked him if he'd ever heard of a mouse trap... There are ways to take care of rodents, and compost won't add to the current problem. As long as you are burying any food scraps in the pile and you are keeping the C:N ratio in the right range, the heat should keep any rodents out of the pile.

I'm going to disagree, and say that food-containing compost can and does attract rodents and larger animals. A compost pile with tasty insects may also attract little mammalian predators. Circle of Life, you know?

I often disturb little mousiekins when I uncover my Northern California pile. Back when I lived in Baltimore, I had to give up on composting because all the neighbors were sick of seeing the rats run in and out of the air holes in my plastic bin.

In rural central New York, we called the compost pile the raccoon snack bar.

Animals are looking for food, are will certainly dig through a compost pile if they think they'll find something tasty.

I don't advocate dumping a feral cat on your schoolyard. It's neither fair to the cat or the songbirds.

Maybe the best solution for you is to only compost with garden cuttings and leaves, and omit food from your mix.

Wow I can't believe that people who practice container composting are having trouble with mice. Can't you just find a bin that doesn't allow exposure to the critters and scrap the old one? Doesn't seem like rocket science to me. As long as you get enough air to your compost pile everything should be fine. Look at some of the designs on the internet that other folks have used that are relatively enclosed. You may need to invest in a tumbler or other type of enclosed bin that has air VENTS as opposed to being wide open, or make one yourself with a large number of smaller holes (say 1/2" diameter), as opposed to just leaving your compost exposed to anything and everything that might want to feast on it. No need to omit valuable things from your compost. Just get a better bin.