School District: Kent
School Location: Kent
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: November 2011

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012

Waste reduction and recycling

• Daniel Elementary recycles 67 percent of its solid waste.
• Monthly waste-free lunch campaigns were held in the lunchroom, focusing primarily on reducing wasted foods and beverages.

• Students were consistently reminded to drink their milk and to only take milk if they were going to drink it. The school reduced its lunchroom milk waste from over seven gallons of leftover milk per day in September 2011 to only three gallons per day in March 2012.
• To reduce paper use, one-sided paper reuse boxes are in every classroom and the school library only uses paper that’s been used on one side.
• Head Custodian Heladio Guerrero uses teachable moments in the lunchroom on a daily basis to remind students about properly sorting their recyclable and compostable materials.
• A sixth-grade student Green Team collects the school’s recyclable materials and assists Guerrero to properly sort any waste left on tables after lunch.
• Education and outreach activities included the following.
• In November 2011, King County provided a school assembly on waste reduction as a kick-off event for Green School efforts.
• Green Team staff created a bulletin board dedicated to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink messages.
• Stickers listing what can and can’t be recycled were placed on all school recycling containers.
• In March 2012 a guest theater group performed The Lorax for kindergarten through sixth grade students to help raise environmental awareness.
• In the spring of 2012, the school put on a Being Green musical to promote environmental responsibility.

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

Tracy Magee, educational assistant
Tracy.Magee@kent.k12.wa.us

Beth Gilbertson, environmental services supervisor, Kent School District
Beth.Gilbertson@kent.k12.wa.us