Success story: Career Academy at Truman High School
School District: Federal Way
School Location: Federal Way
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2011
Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012
Waste reduction and recycling (level one)
- Career Academy recycles and composts 58 percent of its solid waste.
- Thanks to increased collection of recyclable and compostable materials, the school reduced its 8-yard garbage Dumpster to a 6-yard Dumpster, saving $1,080 annually.
- The school saved an additional $1,720 after exploring different recycling collection services and selecting a new recycling hauler, realizing a total of $2,800 in cost savings in 2011-12.
- Students made signs to hang above each disposal bin in lunchrooms that serve to educate students about what can and can’t be recycled and composted.
- Students received King County's Earth Impact classroom presentations.
- Bins for compostable materials were added to staff eating areas to reduce the amount of food waste going to the landfill.
- The school completely eliminated the use of straws in the lunchroom.
- Food is donated to senior centers, homeless shelters and other community organizations from edible gardens on campus maintained by students and volunteers.
- Career Academy staff coordinated with the EX3 Teen Center and Head Start Preschool that share garbage and recycling Dumpsters with the school in order to reduce the amount of trash going to the landfill.
- Head Start kitchen staff, teachers and students received in-person education on what can and can’t be collected for composting.
- Composting began in both the Head Start kitchen and classroom with one collection container and another was quickly added to accommodate all of Head Start’s compostable materials.
- The EX3 Teen Center staff received additional recycling bins and mentoring from Career Academy staff to promote increased recycling in their building.
Award
- Ken Lao, custodian, received a King County Earth Hero at School award in April 2012.
For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:
Regina Hauptmann, Dean of Students
RHauptma@fwps.org