Learning to RecycleRecycling to Learn

Model 1: Cafeteria education to recycle and compost-parent-inspired-the first of six Green Initiatives proposed -emphasis on visual communication to entire school

Model 2: School garden and compost program-comprehensive- start both together-principal is an early supporter-curriculum development included

Model 3: Student-initiated-motivated by Girl Scout Bronze Badge goal-enlist support from a student Green Team-compile research from other models in town

Model 4: Food service staff try composting kitchen prep scraps

Model 1: Brackett School

Brackett Elementary School

Communication to School Community

Front lobby display of waste audit process & results Flyers/emails/website communications to teachers and

families After school program garden ecology workshop Green Team after school activities Science Fair: Composting & Soil Food Web table Sorting station at school events serving food Many iterations of sorting station signage

Lessons Learned: Changes & Accommodations

Changes From one trash bin for everything to sorting station From on-site composting to Whole Foods From Styrofoam to compostable trays

Accommodations Lunch room staff Parent involvement

1-2 Year Roll Out for Educational Garden and On-Site Composting Committee Formation Principal, school staff and teacher, parents

Outlined program goalsDesignated structure, responsibility, project timeline   

Model 2: Bishop School

 Community InvolvementFood Waste AuditTeacher SurveyCoordination with school staff including café and janitorial Grant Applications, PTO Funding  

 

Preplanning

Community OutreachCompost Logo Design, Student Vote Began an Annual Seed SaleAnnual Plant SaleWrite Locke Farm for Winter Composting (November-March)Afterschool Program Involvement   

Program Activation, prior to PTO Involvement

 Build 3-Bin ComposterAssist School Staff During and After Lunch PeriodsCoordinate with Afterschool ProgramLead into School Garden    

Full Program Spring Roll Out

 On-Site Composting and School GardenPTO Support and Annual Financial StipendSchool District Support for Summer

Curriculum DevelopmentTeacher Support for Curriculum Development

andImplementationChampion 5th Grade Students to Lead and

Support Composting   

Full Program Spring Roll Out

Model 3: Dallin School

Trash Audit at Dallin By: Ava Bussone, Megan Kerins and Sadie Medros

What is a Trash Audit?

Recycle

Recyclables in One School Year

I weigh 1,300 pounds

Composting

All the food that is compostable.

All the food that is NOT compostable.

Composting in One School Year

21

I am the largest horse in the world and I weigh 2,400

pounds.

Trays

Trays in One School Year

23

The Trays would be stacked up to a 60 story building.

Uneaten/Unopened Food

Look at all the food that we waste.

Food Link

CHALLANGES

Getting the lunch monitors on board with composting.

Getting approval from our principal Mr. Dingman.

Getting the students on board with composting.

Telling the lunch monitors that it does not take any extra time.

Educating the kids about composting.

RESEARCH

We heard Food Link talk to us about what they do

We talked to a composting expert We went to a recycling plant We did a Trash Audit We enlisted the assistance of DPW Joined the Go Green Club

GOALS

To get composting Having Food Link take our

food To stop wasting so much

food To make a change in the

community To increase Recycling

Where We Are Now

• We spoke to the 3rd 4th and 5th Grade about composting and recycling.

• We are getting the students to recycle more by putting the bins in the middle of the cafeteria in a row.

• We are getting a 5 gallon bucket for the students to put their compost.

• Then we are going to get a tumbler bin for outside.

• The composting is going to start when we get the bins.

THE END

Model 4: Thompson SchoolFood Service Composting. Employees at breakfast and lunch collected food

scraps for about two months. Composting happened on site by Mr. S. The Food Services director was supportive, attended initial meeting

Challenges 1: Lack of coaching: The workers weren't filling buckets regularly. When they were getting filled, Mr. S would pick them up during the week, monitor the bins, take out contaminants, and add carbon matter.

Challenge 2: Competition for volunteer time: Two food donation programs have volunteers who are more diligent about separating food waste. It’s easier to work with these volunteers than with food service staff. The flow of food through these programs overwhelmed the compost processing. Mr. S found his volunteer time more useful to volunteer for food donation programs than to food services composting.