King County recognizes Tahoma School District for strides in waste reduction and recycling

Tahoma first district to achieve Level One of the Green Schools Program

The program has three levels, each of which engage the entire school community in learning about sustainability and improving conservation practices.

“Tahoma School District’s eight schools have done a terrific job engaging students and staff in learning about and practicing conservation,” said Dale Alekel, King County Green Schools Program manager. “The district and its schools provide a model for other schools and districts. “

Sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division, the Green Schools Program provides assistance and tools to school districts and schools to help them practice resource conservation and engage students and staff in environmental stewardship.

Glacier Park Elementary was the first school in the Tahoma School District to participate in and complete Level One of the King County Green Schools Program, leading the way for the other seven schools in the district to do the same: Lake Wilderness Elementary, Rock Creek Elementary, Shadow Lake Elementary, Tahoma Middle, Cedar River Middle, Tahoma Junior High, and Tahoma Senior High.

Five of the district’s eight schools recycle their food scraps and food soiled paper, which Cedar Grove Composting facility collects and composts. Glacier Park Elementary, the first school in the district to add organics collection, increased its recycling rate from 10 percent to 68 percent by recycling paper, bottles, cans, cartons and organic materials.

The results also are tangible economically. Due to increased recycling and decreased garbage volumes, the district reduced its garbage disposal costs by 24 percent – a total of $25,000 – when comparing September to April 2007-08 costs to September through April 2009-10 costs.

As of May 2010, three schools in the district – Glacier Park Elementary, Cedar River Middle, and Tahoma Junior High – had also completed Level Two of the program, which focuses on energy conservation practices. Students and staff became engaged in actions such as turning off lights in unoccupied spaces, turning off equipment after use, and keeping heating vents free of books and other items. Level two also involves teaching students and staff why energy conservation is important.

As part of their Level Two efforts, Glacier Park, Cedar River and Tahoma Junior High completed the Green Schools environmental education checklist. Sustainability and environmental education are integrated into curriculum at every grade level throughout the district. Environmental education tools include field trips and use of school grounds to plant and maintain gardens. At Glacier Park, the student Green Team organized a “Walk, Bike or Bus to School” month to increase awareness and promote responsible stewardship.

To reduce paper use, the district has a double-sided photocopying and printing policy, and purchased a fax machine that prints double-sided pages. A voice mail system is used to send district-wide messages to parents.

To avoid food waste, prior to the end of the school year the district’s food service team uses up all food that would otherwise become inedible over the summer or reach expiration dates before September. Durable trays are used in every school, and compostable cardboard trays are used only when necessary.

At a school board meeting and through an e-mail to all employees, the district introduced its participation in the Green Schools Program. In meetings with principals and head custodians, district-wide recycling procedures and Green School goals were discussed. All utility bills are monitored by district staff and reported to the school board each month. The district plans to complete Level Two, which is focused on energy conservation.

Learn more about the King County Green Schools Program at www.kingcounty.gov/GreenSchools, or by contacting Dale Alekel at 206-296-8457 or dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.