Waste Free School program

focusing on a ZERO WASTE LUNCH

The Offset Project is proud to report our achievements in creating a Waste Free School program at Forest Grove and Robert Down elementary schools in Pacific Grove. Although each school has been successful in different ways, they have exemplified a willingness to adopt change. Currently, Forest Grove has reduced their waste approximately 15 bags of trash a week or 50% percent in the lunchroom.

The Waste Free School program has made a positive change at Forest Grove and is eagerly supported by staff, teachers, PTA and many parents. Students participate at all levels. Recycle Rangers involve 270 students from 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade classrooms. Every day, teachers designate two students from each class to pose as the Rangers who monitor the recycle bins in the lunchroom. Two additional students are designated as a set-up crew and clean –up crew to assist the site coordinator on bin maintenance. We have also hosted poster parties to enlist more kids in supporting the program and held an ice cream party to thank all the students for their enthusiasm. Students are now walking through the line of recycle bins with confidence that they know what is recyclable and are taking pride in keeping their trays clean so that they won’t end up in the landfill.

Recycle Rangers helped divert an estimated 90% of unopened food from the landfill this year by redirecting the food to other students during lunch or serving it as snack options to the afterschool program. 125 unopened fork/spoon/straw packets that are collected each month from the students as they sort their materials. These are then donated to The Food Bank. The District has also helped reduce the amount of grease that soaks into the lunch trays during Friday’s pizza day. They have purchased white tray liners that allow roughly 95% of the trays to be recycled instead of thrown away.

The schools have also adopted educational measures to support the environmental message. The grant money has allowed seven Forest Grove teachers to adopt the Harvest of the Month curriculum which offers a vegetable tasting supported by targeted curriculum. Robert Down is using its money for composting infrastructure to allow them to collect food waste from the lunchroom.

Even though The Offset Project is successfully setting up the infrastructure to create a sustainable program, the school spirit might be the most important in keeping a program like this alive. The PTA has been very supportive and has started purchasing compostable products and setting up recycling during their school events. They highlight the “Do’s and Don’ts” of recycling in their Newsletter and claim that the school is going “green”. Two new education pieces will be introduced to the school in 2010. The Monterey Regional Waste Management District will bring the "Race to Save the Planet" assembly to each school and The Offset Project plans to initiate “Worm Wednesday” where all salad bar and fruit scraps will be collected for classroom composting.

There are many things yet to accomplish. Some of them could be viewed as challenges such as food packaging and custodial contracts while others are more of a to-do list such as hosting a reusable water bottle fundraiser and initiating our new educational pieces. The Offset Project looks forward to continuing our commitment and feels that laying this foundation will lead to a permanent program in the District.

PGUSD Grant Application

Suggested resources:

Life Lab Science Program

Harvest of the Month Education

Additional Resources

Marshall Elementary was the Pilot program for the Zero Waste Lunch Program in Monterey County. Now in its second year, the school has reduced its waste 50% in the cafeteria by having the kids sort their lunch into separate recycling and composting containers. Financial Report

The Offset Project is working with Pacific Grove School District to enact a sustainability plan. The Sustainability Plan is a long term vision for our District to be completed over the next 5 years. The vision includes waste reduction and composting programs, energy use reduction plans and reestablishing and/or creating school gardens that will be used to fulfill curriculum and strengthen our communities on campus.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The Offset Project plans to work with the District to reduce their energy output. An assessment conducted by the Rightlights program will take place to determine the needs of the school and The Offset Project will help fund and implement the upgrade.

FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

Forest Grove Elementary will be the initial target for the first year. A garden space has been identified outside the second grade classrooms. The Offset Project is currently working with teachers to implement a curriculum that would fulfill their science requirements. The long term goal is to initiate the Farm to School Program for the entire District.