The Green Team
King County School Recycling Assistance Program at Ridgecrest Elementary School
- Ridgecrest Elementary School doubled the quantity of materials they recycle by improving paper collection in the classrooms and adding plastic bottles and aluminum cans to their recycling program.
- Before improving its recycling program, the school’s 4-cubic yard outdoor recycling container was collected by a recycling company once per month. After the recycling program was expanded, the school needed an 8-cubic yard recycling container, collected once per month.
- The school reduced its garbage volume by 25%. By reducing what they throw away and increasing what they recycle, Ridgecrest students and staff will save $1,638 in garbage disposal costs during the 2005-06 school year. The school was able to save this money by reducing the size of their outdoor garbage dumpster from 8 cubic yards to 6 cubic yards.
- Sixth grade Green Team students monitor the collection of plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the school cafeteria, and help students determine what is and is not accepted in the recycling program.
- Green Team students collect paper, plastic bottle and aluminum can from recycling containers in classrooms, offices and hallways throughout the building.
- Kitchen staff now recycles tin (steel) cans as well as plastic jugs and containers.
- Parents, staff and PTA members are encouraged to purchase beverage containers that are recyclable rather than to purchase juice boxes or cartons that cannot be recycled at the school.
- Mary Rae, 3rd grade teacher leads Ridgecrest’s Green Team and worked hard to improve recycling at the school.
