School District: Renton
School Location: Renton
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: August 2015

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in February 2016

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Meadow Crest Early Learning Center achieved a recycling rate of 64 percent. 
• Lead custodian Nicholas Charles sent reminders to staff about best practices for waste reduction and recycling.  Mr. Charles used results from a staff survey to learn more about the school’s barriers to waste reduction and help the school improve its waste reduction and recycling practices.
• Teachers worked with young students to help them sort garbage, recyclable, and compostable materials, and custodial staff regularly monitored containers for correct sorting.
• When purchasing new supplies, the school transitioned to recyclable or compostable materials for paper towels, cereal bowls, fruit cups, and serving boats.
• Meadow Crest set up a display table showing items that can be recycled, and bins were labeled with lists and visual stickers showing what items could be recycled and composted.
• The school cancelled four newspaper subscriptions.
• Scrap paper boxes for paper used on one side only were placed in all four work rooms.
• Uneaten snacks were saved in classroom refrigerators or sent back to the kitchen.
• Milk was provided to teachers in half gallons, and, to avoid wasting it, the milk was poured into small cups only for students that wanted it.

For more information about the school’s conservation achievements and participation in the Green Schools Program, contact:

Nicholas Charles III, head custodian
Nicholas.charles@rentonschools.us

Jonathan Stine, program manager, district Energy Management Office
resourceconservation@rentonschools.us