School District: Highline
School Location: Des Moines
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2008

Level one of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in June 2009

Waste reduction and recycling

• Beverly Park Elementary School increased its recycling rate from 33 percent to 38 percent.
• To compost food and yard waste, paraeducator Karen Eng spearheaded the creation of two outdoor worm bins. With help from the Green Schools Program, sixth grade students from teacher Rosanne Esposito’s class participated in a King County Green Team workshop on how to compost using a worm bin. Each lunch period, selected students collect food scraps and tend the worm bin.
• The school started recycling breakfast milk cartons and currently recycles approximately 150 milk cartons and 120 juice cartons per day. Custodian Archie Champion has led this effort.
• Recycling containers provided by the Green Schools Program were added to the lunchroom for milk cartons, juice boxes, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and food scraps.
• School staff placed recycling stickers on all recycling containers. Provided by the Green Schools Program, the stickers list what can and cannot be recycled.
• Beverly Park has adopted and promoted a double-sided copy policy which has helped decrease paper waste.

For more information about this school’s participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:

Karen Eng, paraeducator
Telephone: 206-433-2508
E-mail: ssciacqu@TahomaSD.US

Kathy Anderson, principal
Telephone: 206-433-2508
E-mail: anderskm@hsd401.org

Frank Eshpeter, Highline Public Schools facilities services supervisor
eshpetf@HSD401.org