Program benefits and assistance
Program benefits
- Assistance – King County representatives provide hands-on assistance and guidance.
- Conservation – Improved conservation practices reduce depletion of natural resources and help to protect our environment.
- Cost savings – Conservation practices save money.
- Education and leadership opportunities for students – Students learn about resource conservation and sustainability, develop leadership skills, and take action in their schools, homes, and communities. Action-oriented environmental education engages students and can improve learning and test scores.
- Recognition – Schools and school districts receive recognition which enhances student, staff, family/community ownership and pride.
- Resources – King County provides information, assistance, referrals, indoor recycling bins and signs.
Program assistance
A program representative is assigned to assist each school and district that signs up to participate in the program. In participating schools, the program assists student teams working on education and action for sustainability.
Tailored to the needs of each participant, assistance includes helping student teams, schools, and districts to:
- assess current conservation practices (including waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation, water conservation and pollution prevention, healthy school strategies, transportation, and green building).
- educate students and staff about why resource conservation matters and how to improve and expand conservation practices.
- take steps to improve resource conservation practices, share successes, and, if desired, complete program criteria to receive recognition.
- locate free technical assistance and funding sources.
The program also provides:
- Indoor recycling bins up to $250 for schools serving 40% or more free and reduced meals, and up to $150 for other schools.
- recycling stickers for indoor recycling bins; signs promoting energy and water conservation; and other materials and tools
- resources for waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation, water conservation and pollution prevention, environmental education, environmental purchasing, healthy schools, green building, litter reduction and transportation.
- recognition for student teams, and recognition for schools and school districts that complete criteria in program levels (starting with Level One: Waste Reduction and Recycling, and progressing if desired to Levels Two, Three, and the Sustaining level).
