Subscribe to RSS feedSchool Success Stories
These are just a few of the dedicated, hard working schools that can be an inspiration to others trying to achieve Wastebusters status. They include an array of amazing, wonderful teachers, principals, students, custodians and parent volunteers who ensure that recycling is an institutionalized practice at their schools. Feel free to contact them for additional information.
BUENA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WALNUT CREEK
Buena Vista Elementary is one of the very first Wastebusters-certified schools. Under the leadership of science teacher Deborah Walker, Buena Vista has achieved extraordinary recycling and waste reduction successes. Deborah’s organized club, called the S.W.A.T. (Students Worried About Trash), are 4th and 5th graders who are the “muscle” behind the recycling and food waste collection program. S.W.A.T. members not only collect all the recycling from classrooms, but are tasked with making sure that only recyclables go into the recycling bin. In the lunchroom, they stand guard at the recycling containers to ensure that there is no contamination with non-recyclables. Buena Vista volunteered to pilot CCCSWA’s food waste collection program two years ago. They’ve demonstrated that food waste can be collected successfully, but monitoring the program on a daily basis helps them achieve perfection. They have achieved Wastebusters Leadership Circle status and receive $1,200 every year that they reapply and the S.W.A.T. club comes to the MRF field trip every year.
Contact: Deborah Walker at dwalker@wcsd.k12.ca.us
DONALD RHEEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MORAGA
Donald Rheem Elementary is another of the first schools to get certified as a Wastebuster. Principal Elaine Frank, teacher Bess Inzeo and their dedicated custodian Dave, have enthusastically improved their recycling and source reduction programs every year. Rheem has monthly “spirit” assemblies where they have educated and motivated the students to improve recycling. They made great strides at improving their lunchtime recycling program and now have a beautiful garden, composting and vermicomposting program. Rheem developed the Wastebusters K-5 Curriculum for all CCCSWA schools and they’ve implemented it in their own classrooms. Last year they instituted the “Sunflower Project”. Students made eco-pots out of newspaper to plant sunflower seeds, incorporating the 4Rs Curriculum. They used math, scientific observations and art in the project, and as they returned from summer vacation, viewed sunflowers all over the kindergarten playground. Rheem is a Wastebusters Leadership Circle school and they receive $1,200 every year they reapply, plus they have been reimbursed for bus transportation to the Materials Recovery Facility field trip.
Contact: Elaine Frank at efrank@moraga.k12.ca.us
ORINDA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, ORINDA
Recycling and source reduction at intermediate schools can be a big challenge – larger populations of students pay closer attention to scholastics and socializing instead of recycling. OIS is also one of the original Wastebusters schools. Under the passionate leadership of instructors Kristen Nielson and Suzy Kisch, OIS has achieved Wastebusters Leadership Circle status. They supervise and manage a dynamic environmental club that helps ensure a smooth lunchtime recycling program. The club organized a Green Bottle (reusable bottle) fundraiser with proceeds going to the Haiti Earthquake victims. They also host lunchtime movies, contests, promotions and skits to raise awareness of recycling and source reduction at the school and last year, organized Earth Week activities. Kristen and Suzy have also managed to build a lunchtime sorting station to make recycling easier. One of their most unique projects is “trash pie”. Students leave discarded uneaten apples and Kristen and Suzy take them and bake apple pies for their environmental club students. Pretty dedicated! OIS is a Wastebusters Leadership Circle school and receive $1,200 every year that they apply. The funds go right back into promotions and supplies to improve recycling and source reduction. They also take advantage of reimbursement for bus transportation to the MRF.
Contacts: Kristen Nielson at knielson@orinda.k12.ca.us and Suzy Kisch at skisch@orinda.k12.ca.us
BURTON VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LAFAYETTE
Burton Valley has a very large, spread out campus with nearly 700 students. Under the direction of science teacher Laura Lowell, Burton Valley has some exceptional achievements over the years. Burton Valley has an amazing garden which is managed by volunteers who not only teach students about growing food, but also composting. The students have grown the veggies to make tortilla chips and salsa, and experienced first hand making and eating them too. Laura has a very dedicated group of students who manage the lunch recycling program. They help guide students to recycle properly, plus they are responsible for disposing of leftover milk and juice. They wash out bins, keep containers neat and tidy, and help the custodian with cleaning up after lunch. Burton Valley uses red reusable lunch baskets, thereby eliminating the use of Styrofoam and cardboard food containers. Laura has produced an educational Power Point on how to organize lunch time recycling which can be found on Free Programs & Resources. Burton Valley has achieved Wastebusters Leadership Circle status because of their amazing school recycling programs and their Super Star Laura Lowell and her students..
Contact: Laura Lowell at llowell@lafsd.k12.ca.us
LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LAFAYETTE
Lafayette is another long term member of the Wastebusters certification program. Under the leadership of science teacher Jonathan Winter, Lafayette has reduced their trash levels and increased recycling, including green waste. Jonathan has organized classroom and lunchtime recycling, but also managed and implemented week-long Earth Day activities that include much more including bike/walk to school, energy reduction, lunch waste reduction and more. Jonathan has made sure that Lafayette applies for and receives the Wastebusters Leadership Circle certification every year, earning his school $1,200 per year. He’s also brought several classrooms of students to the Materials Recovery Facility.
Contact: Jonathan Winter at jwinter@lafsd.k12.ca.us
CHARLOTTE WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, DANVILLE
Charlotte Wood’s Climate Committee has been central to the success of their recycling and source reduction efforts. Led by Vice Principal Karen Schneider, the students have run waste audits, led promotional efforts to raise awareness on campus, promoted less packaging with lunches, and they have been able to get students to use both sides of the paper for homework. They have an impressive donation program with computers, clothing, Books for Barrios, used P.E. uniforms and more. They’ve also generated numerous articles in their school newspaper and at school sponsored events. Charlotte Wood has been Wastebusters certified for the past two years.
Contact: Kschneider@srvusd.net
RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY, ALAMO
Rancho Romero became a Wastebusters certified school in FY 2009/2010 for the first time. Under the supervision of 3rd grade teacher Jennifer Harrington, the school shifted into gear and implemented major changes to their recycling program. They increased awareness and diversion of recyclable lunch waste by posting student-made posters showing recyclable materials as well as talking to students. They implemented email communications to parents and among teachers and made double-sided copying a policy. They instituted a Green Team of students that monitored and tracked how the recycling was working and included litter awareness. Teacher Jennifer Harrington and some of her fellow teachers built a beautiful garden and use compost to keep their plants healthy. When a school starts a program like this for the first time, it takes an enormous amount of energy, time and dedication – Rancho Romero deserves congratulations for their first time efforts!
Contact: jharrington@srvusd.net