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Success Story: Issaquah Middle School
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Issaquah Middle School
(click image to enlarge)
Students empty classroom recyclable materials into larger containers. |
School District: Issaquah
School Location: Issaquah
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: In 2005-06, then again in May 2009
Level one of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in November 2009
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- The school started a strong recycling program several years ago and has enhanced it every year, maintaining a 60 percent recycling rate through on-going recycling education and awareness among the student body. As a result, garbage volume has been reduced by 66 percent and the school has realized a 42 percent savings in garbage collection costs.
- In 2006, with assistance from the City of Issaquah, the school piloted a food scrap collection program that served as a model for other schools within the district.
- Students from the Associated Student Body (ASB) are responsible for collecting the school’s paper and plastic recyclable materials twice each week.
- The school’s kitchen staff replaced disposable trays with durable trays that are washed and reused after each lunch.
- Students verified that there is a recycling bin in every classroom and then placed stickers on all recycling containers. Provided by the Green Schools Program, the stickers list what can and can’t be recycled.
- More than 30 students volunteered to serve as lunch time recycling monitors and educate fellow students on proper recycling practices.
- ASB students produced several videos that educated the student body about recycling. These videos were shown to the entire school on the morning video announcements.
- ASB students produced a recycling education skit that was performed at the first assembly of the school year.
- The National Junior Honor Society and ASB organized and carried out a locker clean out in which students recycled and donated their school supplies at the end of the school year.
- Issaquah Middle staff members participated in a recycling education presentation at the beginning of the school year.
- In January 2010, the Issaquah Press wrote an article about Issaquah Middle School’s recycling outreach efforts and holiday recycling (external).
Award
- 2009 King County Earth Hero at School award: Issaquah Middle School received this award for its successful recycling program, which is due to dozens of committed staff and students that fine-tuned an existing program in 2006, enhanced it in 2007 and expanded it once again in 2008.
For more information about this school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Michelle Pickard, teacher
pickardm@issaquah.wednet.edu
Olga Haider, teacher
haidero@issaquah.wednet.edu
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