Zero Waste Schools. Best Practices in School Waste Reduction and Composting in Illinois. Indiana Recycling Coalition June 9, 2015

Transcription

1 Zero Waste Schools Indiana Recycling Coalition June 9, 2015 Best Practices in School Waste Reduction and Composting in Illinois Jennifer Nelson Zero Waste Program Manager Seven Generations Ahead

2 Seven Generations Ahead 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Chicago metro area and Midwest Mission to promote ecologically sustainable and healthy communities PlanItGreen, Green Town, Fresh from the Farm, and Zero Waste Ambassadors

3 Schools with ZW Programs Chicago Public Schools: Commercial Compost pilot 2015 (ongoing) Breakfast waste reduction program (25 schools in ) ZW plans being developed and implemented at individual schools (ongoing) D97 Oak Park: 8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools Highland Park D112: ZW survey of all schools ( ) Lunchroom composting ( ) Naperville: 1 elementary school ( ) Kenilworth: 1 elementary school ( )

4 Best Practices Zero waste team Zero waste audit Zero waste strategic planning Zero waste education - curriculum Keeping engagement

5 Why Zero Waste? An average-sized elementary school generates 18,000 lbs of garbage per year. (kidskonserve.com) The average student generates approximately 1/2 lb of waste per school day. (EPA) other estimates are higher Active area landfill space is at a premium, making hauling necessary.

6 Zero Waste Goals Increase recycling Convert food scraps to compost Eliminate waste at its source (source reduction) Teach about sustainability and Earth s natural cycles Identify opportunities for cost savings Start the journey toward Zero Waste

7 BUILDING A DIVERSE ZERO WASTE TEAM

8 Build a Zero Waste Team Administration & Staff Custodian & Cafeteria Staff Student Ambassadors Zero Waste Team SGA (Technical Expert) PTO/ Green Team

9 How do you get a Yes? Show examples of other schools doing this successfully Review systems already in place We want to pave the way/not be left behind Use data Prepare them for green jobs with hands on experience Involvement from everyone ensures good program design

10 CONDUCTING A WASTE AUDIT

11 Zero Waste Planning & Audit 1. Conduct a waste audit 2. Measure results 3. Use results to strategically plan ZW initiatives 4. Establish and communicate goals and strategies

12 Waste at an Average School * based on actual data from Holmes Elementary 75% Landfilled 25% Recycled

13 Average School Waste Mix * based on actual data from Holmes Elementary 23% can be COMPOSTED Food Scraps 31% can be RECYCLED 26% + can be ELIMINATED Misc Waste Trays Mixed Paper Liquid 20% or less LANDFILLED From 75% to 20% Landfill

14 Audit Results Guide Goal Setting CPS Breakfast Waste Audit Results George Washington Elementary (Nov 2011) 301 milk cartons used each morning = 51,113 milk cartons could be recycled each year 99.6 pounds of liquid each morning = 16,932 pounds could be kept out of the landfill each year 26% George Washington Breakfast Data 8% 10% 3% 4% 6% 43% Liquid Recycling Milk Cartons LFHW Uneaten Food Compostables 398 paper bags used each morning = 67,660 bags could be recycled each year

15 Julian Middle School 6 th Grade Can Make A Difference! 85 milk cartons per day = 14,875 milk cartons to be recycled in one school year Over 6,000 water bottles to be recycled in one school year Potential to divert 47 pounds from the landfill each day = 8,373 pounds diverted in one year % goes to the landfill 2014 Only 17% goes to the landfill 11% Recycling Landfill 17% Compost 72%

16 DEVELOPING YOUR ZERO WASTE PLAN

17 Plan Goals & Strategies Increase Recycling Green Cafeteria Reduce Waste at its Source Paper Usage/Copying Policy Composting

18 Lunchroom Waste Sorting Line

19 Lunchroom Sorting Stations Joseph Sears School CPS Waters Elementary D97 Beye Elementary D97 Holmes Elementary CPS A Jackson Elementary/Middle D97 Hatch Elementary

20 School Composting Methods Tumbler-Beye 3 Bin System-Hatch Hauled off sitepilot at Lincoln Earth Tub-Holmes Worm bins-many schools

21 CONNECTING OPERATIONS AND EDUCATION: TEACHING ABOUT ZERO WASTE

22 Why ZW Education is Important STUDENTS Learn to be environmental stewards Prepare for green jobs Gain leadership skills and take ownership over health of school/environment/ community SCHOOL Healthier learning environment Connect classroom learning with action Cost savings COMMUNITY Success in the school can be shared with the community ENVIRONMENT Conserve resources Reduce pollution

23 Don t Throw Me Away! A Zero Waste Curriculum

24 ZW Curriculum Overview Elementary (K-5) 8 Lessons Waste = Resources Reduce, Recycle, Compost Cycles, Community, Choices Packed with fun educational hands-on activities Aligns to Core Curriculum State Standards Aligns to Next Generations Science Standards

25 Lesson 2 Activity Build a Landfill - activity 2.A Materials per group: 2 Bottles Soil Testing material Measure/Track Results

26 Lesson 6 Decomposition Race (Adapted) DAY 1 DAY 79

27 Field Trips/Guest Speakers Landfill Recycling MRF Composting Facility Reuse Business Working Bikes Farmers Market Master Composters Other ZW Schools

28 Don t Throw Me Away: Common Core Standards LESSON 2 GRADE 3 CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.1 CCSS.Math.Content.3.NBT.A.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 OPERATIONS AND ALGABRAIC THINKING Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 7. NUMBER AND OPERATIONS IN BASE TEN Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100. READING: LITERATURE Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text. Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events

29 KEEPING EVERYONE ENGAGED

30 Communicate & Excite Students Parents Staff Community

31 Sample One-Page Overview

32 Part of something bigger Zero Waste Schools Make the News Afternoon Shift and All Things Considered - Monday 6/2 The story on food waste in Chicago Public Schools and CPS Blaine Elementary and the Commercial Composting Pilot Morning Shift - Tuesday 6/3 The discussion this morning on commercial food scrap composting in CPS and Oak Park D97

33 Talking Trash Landfill Help students and staff change the way they think about trash. Change the image from that of a big smelly black bag you don t want to think about to a challenge in conserving resources and diverting from the landfill.

34 Commercial Food Scrap Composting - A New Business in Illinois Illinois Food Scrap Coalition

35 Thank You For more information, please contact: Jen Nelson Seven Generations Ahead Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (708)