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King County Green Schools program success story: Meadow Ridge Elementary School

Success story: Meadow Ridge Elementary School

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

  • Meadow Ridge Elementary has a recycling rate of 50 percent.
  • During 2011-12, a recycling rate increase resulted in a decrease in garbage collection service, from twice per week to once per week.
  • Lunchroom announcements made by assistant principal Brian Lockhart encouraging students to drink all their milk have resulted in a decrease in leftover liquids from six gallons per day to one-half gallon per day.
  • Classrooms, offices, and the cafeteria have recycling containers, and the school recycles paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and milk cartons.
  • Education about waste reduction and recycling included regular morning announcements to the entire school, staff meeting announcements, and lunchroom presentations.
  • Brett Nowak, head custodian, supports the school’s improved recycling efforts by assisting with lunch time milk carton recycling and monitoring outdoor collection containers.
  • As part of a district-wide initiative to reduce waste, plastic-wrapped packets of utensils, straws, and napkins were eliminated. In their place, bulk dispensers offer an individual selection of unwrapped utensils and napkins.
  • The central district kitchen donates leftover edible food that cannot be used prior to its expiration date.
  • Smart boards in classrooms and use of electronic overdue library notices have decreased paper use.
  • Reusable supplies are available in teacher classrooms and in the teacher workroom.
  • Unwanted newspaper subscriptions were eliminated and email is used instead of paper copies for staff and parent newsletters.

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

Brett Nowak, head custodian
brett.nowak@kent.k12.wa.us
Beth Gilbertson, environmental services supervisor, Kent School District
beth.gilbertson@kent.k12.wa.us
King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal

Contact Us

 Call: 206-477-4466

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