School District: Riverview
School Location: Carnation
Began participating in the Green Schools Program: October 2011

Level One of the Green Schools Program: Achieved in May 2012

Waste reduction and recycling (level one)

• Riverview Learning Center, a newly constructed facility that opened for the 2011-12 school year, increased its recycling rate from 11 percent in October 2011 to 38 percent in May 2012.
• The school reduced the size of its outdoor garbage container from 8 yards to 3 yards, and increased the size of its outdoor recycling container from 1 yard to 2 yards.
• The ninth and tenth grade students in the school’s CHOICE program took the initiative to complete the Green Schools Level One criteria.
• Students in the CHOICE program started the recycling program in September 2011 and collect recyclable materials weekly from each classroom, with leadership from students Arthur Marty and Sarah Hooper.
• Custodian Bill Kincaid supports the school’s recycling efforts by assisting with recycling collection and monitoring outdoor collection containers.
• A labeled recycling container was placed in every classroom and office, and staff and students are encouraged to reduce waste and recycle.
• To reduce paper use, teachers write on whiteboards and students copy assignments in their notebooks. In addition, staff bulletins and announcements are sent electronically.
• The facility uses recycled content copy paper, makes double-sided copies when printing is necessary, and write on both sides of paper.
• In October, students in the Environmental Science class, “A Sustainable World,” completed a unit about Consumption and the Environment.

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

Shari Milliken, CHOICE teacher
millikens@riverview.wednet.edu