School District: Shoreline
School Location: Shoreline
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: May 2011

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

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Syre Elementary School’s recycling rate increased from 21 percent in May 2011 to 53 percent in May 2012.
• The student Green Team collects paper and other recyclable materials from classrooms twice each week.
• The Green Team educated the entire school about waste reduction and recycling through PA announcements, two bulletin board displays, a Green Team web page, and cafeteria displays.
• The school added milk carton and juice box collection to its lunch time recycling program. Additionally, the school collects Capri Sun juice pouches for recycling through TerraCycle.
• Syre started a food scrap collection pilot in March 2012. Prior to the pilot, the school generated an average of 24 pounds of garbage at lunchtime. By the end of the pilot, the school generated an average of three pounds of garbage at lunchtime, along with 21 pounds of compostable food scraps and food soiled paper.
• The student Green Team initiated three Waste Free Friday events to encourage students to pack waste-free lunches in reusable and recyclable containers. The reward for bringing a waste-free lunch was a ticket to participate in fun lunchtime activities. Student participation was high, with 42 percent of students earning a reward.
• “Pencils for Nicaragua” is a school-wide reuse campaign to collect pencils found on the floor throughout the building. Students place the pencils in a “Pencils for Nicaragua” envelope hanging on the wall and the second grade Green Team collects the envelopes full of pencils, and then sorts, sharpens and binds the pencils. Through May 2012, the school has collected more than 1,500 pencils which will be sent to Nicaragua.

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

Dede Ford, teacher
dede.ford@shorelineschools.org