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Success Story: Challenger Elementary School
School District: Issaquah
School Location: Issaquah
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: In 2005-06, then again in September 2009
Level one of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in December 2009
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Challenger Elementary School maintains a 41 percent recycling rate with a focus on recycling in classrooms and the cafeteria, including food scrap collection in the cafeteria.
- Hank Klein, teacher, and Michael Getty, custodian, established a lunchroom recycling program that included food scraps and other compostable materials. As a result, lunchroom garbage was reduced by 50 percent and lunchroom recycling increased by 60 percent. The City of Issaquah provided assistance with the new lunchroom recycling program.
- Mr. Klein formed a student “Waste Watchers” group that monitors the recycling program and promotes proper recycling practices.
- The school is working with middle school technology students to create a recycling training video for new students. The video will incorporate information on recycling food scraps, milk cartons, juice boxes and paper, and will include suggestions for reducing and reusing products.
- In addition to recycling paper, aluminum cans and plastic bottles, Challenger Elementary School actively recycles batteries, cell phones and ink cartridges.
- Teacher Mariamne Weights made a staff meeting presentation that encouraged staff to serve as role models to students for recycling and composting behaviors.
Award
- 2009 King County Earth Hero at School award: Teacher Hank Klein and custodian Michael Getty received this award for establishing a cafeteria recycling program that reduced lunchroom garbage by 50 percent and increased lunchroom recycling, including food scrap and compostable materials, by 60 percent.
For more information about this school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Hank Klein, teacher
kleinh@issaquah.wednet.edu
Michael Getty, custodian
gettym@issaquah.wednet.edu
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