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

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

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Ridgewood Elementary recycles 43 percent of its solid waste.
• In December 2011, King County provided a school assembly on waste reduction as a kick-off event for Green School efforts.
• School principal Andy Song periodically made PA announcements about waste reduction and recycling throughout the school year.
• In February 2012, two fifth grade classes and one sixth grade class received King County’s waste reduction and recycling classroom workshops.
• Sixth grade students brainstormed ideas to promote waste reduction practices at the school.
• Signs listing what can and can’t be recycled are on all school recycling containers.
• To reduce paper use, one-sided paper reuse boxes are in every classroom. Students then use the GOOS (Good on One Side) paper.
• Waste-free lunch campaigns were held in the lunchroom and focused on reducing wasted foods and beverages.
• Students assist head custodian Kelly Ehlert by collecting classroom recyclable materials and placing them in larger hallway recycling containers.
• As part of a district-wide decision to reduce waste, the school replaced plastic-wrapped utensils with loose utensils and eliminated straws in the lunchroom.

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

Andrew Song, principal
Andrew.Song@kent.k12.wa.us

Kelly Ehlert, head custodian
Kelly.Ehlert@kent.k12.wa.us

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