Waste Free Schools
Working With Schools to Reduce Waste
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Waste Free Schools (WFS) is a collaboration between The County of Santa Cruz, Life Lab Science Program, Ecology Action, and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. The project works with schools in Santa Cruz County to make a positive impact on the environment through an intensive waste reduction program. Students learn to reduce waste by reducing their use of paper and packaging, reusing and recycling as much as possible as well as composting food waste. Life Lab works with teachers to integrate curricular activities related to the science and ecology of waste management. During the 2006-2007 school year the twenty-seven schools participating in WFS diverted 1,689.8 tons of trash. The cost savings totals for the schools and their districts was over eighty thousand dollars for the year.
Site leaders at participating schools work to implement an effective waste reduction program, and to educate students and staff about the importance and how-to’s of resource conservation. Making resource conservation a standard, school-wide practice is the final goal. In order to help site leaders achieve their goals Life Lab provides professional development workshops for site leaders several times a year. These workshops provide site leaders with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of educational issues related to waste reduction, to receive more curricular materials, and to collaborate with colleagues from other schools. In addition, Life Lab staff meets with site leaders on a regular basis, models classroom lessons and conducts assemblies. Life Lab also assists teachers in planning community outreach events.
Each participating school is required to organize a Community Outreach Event. These events endeavor to educate the greater community about resource conservation and the school’s waste reduction efforts. Students facilitate the events. Events range from information booths set up at Open House, to skits and songs performed by students, to PowerPoint presentations and websites.
WFS offers resources to help educators start their own resource conservation programs.
- Create From Waste: a 78 page activity guide with 20 lessons related to waste reduction, suitable for both primary and intermediate grades. Ordering information.
- Away With School Waste: a 17 page teacher’s guide to starting a waste reduction, recycling and composting program. Ordering information or download.
To find out more, please visit the WFS website at www.wastefreeschools.org or contact our program manager at (831) 459-5395 or wfs@lifelab.org.
