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King County Green Schools program success story: Meridian Middle School

Success story: Meridian Middle School

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

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012
Level Two of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2013

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

  • In 2011-12 Meridian Middle School increased its recycling rate from 17 percent to 32 percent.
  • By promoting waste reduction and recycling to the entire school community, the school reduced its total solid waste by 46 yards and the frequency of garbage collection service was decreased.
  • The school is a “One to One Laptop” school, meaning that every student has a laptop and uses it on a daily basis which reduces the use of paper. Students do most daily work on their laptops rather than printing physical copies of work.
  • School offices, classrooms and copy rooms have scratch paper and one-sided paper boxes.
  • In 2012-13, paper copies decreased by 5 percent.
  • Head custodian Gino Stratton monitored the school’s solid waste and worked with students to regularly empty the school’s recycling bins.
  • As part of a district-wide initiative to reduce waste, plastic-wrapped utensils and straws were eliminated. In their place, bulk dispensers offer an individual selection of unwrapped utensils and napkins.
  • Under the direction of teacher Liz Jones, eighth-grade leadership students
    • Promoted a “No Waste Lunch” focused on asking students to only take food they will eat during lunch and to eat the food they take in order to reduce the amount of wasted food.
    • Created a recycling video and played it during lunch to promote recycling to the student population.
    • Created signs for the lunchroom to help remind students about what can and can’t be recycled.
    • Provided morning announcements with recycling and waste reduction information as well as updates on how the school's system is working.
    • Presented recycling information to individual classes.
    • Completed multiple school-wide audits to determine garbage and recycling quantities. Students used this data to motivate students and staff to reduce waste and recycle more.

Energy conservation (level two)

  • To promote energy conservation, the student Green Team
    • Placed “Turn off the Lights” stickers next to all light switches.
    • Laminated and placed “Turn off Electronic Equipment” signs in all classrooms.
    • Shared energy conservation tips in announcements and posted energy saving tips in the lunchroom.
Meridian Middle School
Green Day poster
Meridian Middle School
Recycling kick-off in cafeteria
Meridian Middle School
Cafeteria recycling station for garbage, recyclable materials, and trays
  • To conserve energy, Kent School District’s software shut down non-administrator computers automatically in the evenings.
  • Meridian Middle School set its thermostats between 68 and 70 degrees.

Award

  • The eighth grade leadership class at Meridian Middle School received a King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2012.

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

Michele Tang, vice principal
Michele.Tang@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

TTY Relay: 711

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