Going Green Together, King County’s new elementary assembly show, premiered in October. The show takes students through a series of fun skits at Camp Greenie where they learn about the four Rs – rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle. The show is almost fully booked for this school year, but interested schools can send an email or call 206-583-0655, ext.110 to get on the waiting list for next year.

The Moorlands Elementary Green Team conducted a waste audit with Green Team specialist Claire Mendelsohn to find out what percentage of the lunchtime trash could be recycled and to come up with ideas on how the school could waste less. Teacher Linda McDonald hosted the event in her classroom due to rain. Green Team members sorted through trash and recorded commonly thrown away items while other students took turns observing the process. The team calculated that 20 percent of the waste could have been recycled. The team was surprised by the amount of food waste. The students plan to lead the school effort to recycle empty drink containers (milk cartons, cans, juice boxes and bottles) and reduce food waste.

If your middle or high school has a Green Team that is looking to get more people involved in efforts to reduce waste, consider hosting a Trash on a Tarp event. This activity provides a way for the entire school to see all the waste that is generated while the team gains valuable data about how much the student body knows about recycling and composting.

As of October 2016, fifty percent of K-12 schools in King County outside City of Seattle have received assistance, tools, and recognition from the King County Green Schools Program. Join these 248 schools and get help to engage your school community in improving waste reduction,

Here are a few examples of what schools are doing to engage students and staff members in conservation practices.

Student volunteers at Pine Lake Elementary School in Issaquah School District made outfits out of materials that would have been thrown away and created a “Trashion Show” to showcase the outfits. In addition to giving new life to unwanted products and raising awareness of reuse, students had fun! 

 Damaged clothes and linens aren’t garbage anymore. Up to 95 percent of the clothes, shoes, and linens thrown in the garbage could have been reused or recycled. Many local organizations want all your clothes, shoes, and linens for reuse or recycling – even damaged items – in any condition except wet, mildewed or contaminated with hazardous materials. Find more information on the King County EcoConsumer webpage.