Waste Reduction & Recycling in Schools

Susan Schuller
Development, Education, & Outreach Coordinator – Recycling Connections
Recycling & Waste Management Focus Area Contact – Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin
 SCHOOL CULTURE CURRICULUM COMMUNITY
- Stewardship - Core Subjects - Relationships
- Sense of Belonging - Place-based - Partnerships
- You Matter - Relevancy to Place - Problem Solving

Greening Efforts in Schools

 School Cafeteria Flow
Food Choices Share Table

Sorting Line
 Why? Benefits
• More efficiently using resources
Reduce Waste • Better on the facility staff
Reuse Materials • Saves the district money
Recycle in the • Reduces amount of landfill materials
Cafeteria • Being part of the solutions

How?
• Assess the inputs of waste – waste audit
• Assess how foods are given to students
• Assess kitchen set-up, staffing
• Adjust the flow of the cafeteria
• Interview facility staff for what works for them
• Know the dumpster sizes at schools and adjust as
needed
Institute of Local Self-Reliance
Resource Opportunity in Food Waste
Why? Benefits
• Soil building opportunities
• Saves money (potential for diverting ~40%
waste)
• Carbon sequestration
• Local control
• Reduction of landfill growth

How?
• Assess food waste in trash
• Determine if good food is being wasted
• Learn the laws of diverting waste and being
safe
Encouraging kids to EAT
YOUR FOOD!
• Choices
• Time to eat tasty food
 “The food that remains
on the table at the end of
the breakfast or lunch
hour may be picked up
by the school nurse for
use or will be donated to
a local group such as the
Salvation Army.”

http://aasd.k12.wi.us/news/what_s_new/food_sharing_tables_introduced_in_a_a_s_d
More information on USDA Rules regarding share tables: https://www.fns.usda.gov/use-share-tables-child-nutrition-programs
Madison Elementary in
Stevens Point 2018

20% Waste Diversion by Volume Overall

Viroqua
Middle
School
 McDill
Elementary
School,
Stevens
Point
Take it
home
flyers to
families
Superhero Capes &
Masks student Community members and university students/staff
stewards wear at help with a waste audit with great enthusiasm at
Landfill Larry, student project at Dimensions Washington Elementary, Stevens Point, WI
Dodgeville Elementary
of Learning in Kenosha, WI
Ridgeway Elementary – Environmental
Classroom Recycling Station at High
stewardship is part of the school
Marq Environmental Charter School
culture. Dodgeville, WI
(MS/HS classroom), Montello, WI
 Vermicomposting at
Washington
Elementary, Stevens
Point

Reusing waste and recyclable products for

school projects
Special Collections for
Recycling
• ColorCycle with Crayola
• Trex Plastic Film Recycling
• Carton Council Milk Carton Recycling
• TerraCycling
• Ink cartridge recycling with
PlanetGreen or Evolve Recycling
 Growing Healthy Kids,
Sustainable Communities

Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin

is a partnership among the
Wisconsin Center for Environmental
Education, Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources, and Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction.
 Recycling & Environmental
Energy
Waste Health

Transportation Water School Site

Environmental
Health & Community
& Sustainability
Wellness Involvement
Education

Online application system for

schools at: MyGHSwisconsin.org
Benefits of Recognition
Sugar Maple • Certificate and Banner
(9 Focus Areas) • Eligibility for Green Ribbon
Schools nomination

Sapling • Framed Certificate

(5 Focus Areas) • Certified as a PLT GreenSchool
• EcoSchool USA Green Flag

Seeding • Certificate
(1 Focus Area) • EcoSchool USA Bronze
Recognition

Sprout • Welcome Packet

(Registration) • Eligible to play Cool Choices
• Registered as a PLT GreenSchool
and EcoSchool USA
 Create a Green Thread in Each Lesson
• Ideas for integration
• Make lessons relevant and place-based
Curriculum • Standards-based
• Wisconsin Standards for Environmental
Literacy & Sustainability (2018)

Real-world, place-
based, and relevant
to the students

CONNECT EXPLORE ENGAGE

Resources
• Recycling Connections Website > Reduce Waste > Schools/Cafeterias
https://www.recyclingconnections.org/schools-waste-reduction
• Smarter Lunchrooms Best Practices - Webinar
https://media.dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition/smarter-lunchrooms-best-
practices/story_html5.html
Money, Money, Money, MONEY
• Team Nutrition Training and Grants -- https://dpi.wi.gov/team-
nutrition/training-grants
• EEinWisconsin.org Grants page
• Carton Council Grants - www.recyclecartons.com > schools
• Recycling Connections will help write grants for your school/district for the
2019-2020 school year
 Upcoming Webinar

Registration Link: https://recycleminnesota.org/2019/01/18/cafeteria-trash-is-cash-webinar-february-12-2019-at-900am/

Contact Information:
Susan Schuller
susan@recyclingconnections.org
715-343-0722

Poster hanging at
Dimensions of
Learning School
in Kenosha, WI