School District: Auburn
School Location: Auburn
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: September 2012

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2013

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• During 2012-13, Gildo Rey Elementary increased its recycling rate from 64 percent to 75 percent as a result of a school-wide program that includes recycling in every classroom, office space, staff break room, and copy room, as well as food scrap collection stations throughout the school.
• The school decreased the size of its garbage Dumpster and saved money for the district, thanks to the increase in the collection of recyclable and compostable materials.
• To educate students about the school’s waste reduction and recycling practices, third grade teacher Jim Smith dressed as Captain Compost for the school’s fall assembly.
• The student Green Team helped monitor the school’s recycling, compost, and garbage bins. Grade level representatives of the Green Team met with the principal to discuss the school’s recycling and composting program.
• The custodian regularly provided updates on contamination issues to the principal, who then communicated with individual classrooms. To address contamination, teachers conducted skits and role plays with their students.
• The school reduced waste by using durable silverware four days per week during breakfast and lunch.
• To decrease food waste, the school set up share tables for unopened food items outside of the lunch line and in each classroom.
• To reduce the school’s paper use, students and teachers use whiteboards as much as possible, encourage students and staff to use both sides of paper, and distribute meeting agendas and memos by e-mail.
• A reuse paper bin was placed in the copy room so that staff can make copies on the unused sides of paper.

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

Colleen Barlow, principal
cbarlow@auburn.wednet.edu

Scott Weide, resource conservation manager, Auburn School District
sweide@auburn.wednet.edu