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Success Story: West Mercer Elementary School
School District: Mercer Island
School Location: Mercer Island
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: March 2010
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in November 2010
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- After education, outreach and recycling improvements, West Mercer achieved a recycling rate of 63 percent.
- The students were educated by the King County “Our Planet, R Choices” assembly.
- Waste-free lunches are encouraged.
- Signs are posted near the copy machines and printers asking, "Can it be double sided? Can you use a half sheet and cut? Can you reuse a sheet? Copy only what you need."
- Each classroom has a paper bin for paper that has only been used on one side. The goal is for students and teachers to use the blank sides to reduce paper purchasing.
- Rapid Refill is buying back empty printer cartridges.
- Before starting to reduce waste and recycling in its lunchroom, West Mercer sent approximately 680 pounds of lunchroom trash to the landfill each week. The school decreased its landfill contribution from lunch by almost 90 percent with about 70 pounds per week going to the landfill. Each week the school pours out approximately 210 pounds of liquid, recycles about 50 pounds of bottles, can and milk cartons, and Cedar Grove Composting collects about 350 pounds of compostable material.
Other Conservation Efforts
- The Healthy Ways to School Committee led the school’s participation in the International Walk to School Day event in October 2010.
- “No idle” signs were posted near the drop off/pick up area.
- The Healthy Foods Committee is working on improving the nutritional quality of school lunches as well as classroom snacks and party treats.
- The school submitted green purchasing suggestions for PTA and classroom events.
- West Mercer is planning a learning garden which will have areas for each grade level to plant and maintain.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Amy Wolff, parent
amywolff@hotmail.com
Rich Mellish, principal
rich_mellish@misd.wednet.edu
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