School District: Enumclaw
School Location: Enumclaw
Began Participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2008

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in November 2010

Waste reduction and recycling

• Through an increase in classroom recycling and the addition of can and bottle recycling in the lunchroom, Thunder Mountain Middle School increased its recycling rate from 28 percent to 48 percent, an improvement of 71 percent.
• A “no print” day was held to increase awareness of paper waste at school.
• The eighth grade science classes regularly remind students about proper recycling through posters and announcements over the intercom system.
• During the 2009-10 school year, students performed skits in the lunchroom to promote cafeteria recycling.
• The school replaced plastic-wrapped utensils with unwrapped utensils and straws.
• Students organized a Zero Waste locker clean-out to gather unwanted items for reuse or recycling.

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

Melanie Hanson, teacher
melanie_hanson@enumclaw.wednet.edu