Green Up Our Schools

Green Valley Elementary

Green Up Our Schools member from 2008 to 2011

During the 3 years of the program, each school creates their own "green" plan to recycle more and waste less.

View photos of all the green activities in action.


Waste Reduction Projects Each school must complete a minimum of two waste reduction projects per year. Click on each title to view a more detailed description.

Year 1
Student Green Team Formed a group of eco-minded students to take on the responsibility of the recycling program and carry out green activities. (Learn more.)	2008-2009
Field Trip (DPS) Visited the Alpine Waste Recycling Center in Denver to view the recycling sorting process in action. Took 100 kids. (Learn more.)	2008-2009
Zero Waste Lunch Campaign Taught students how to bring a lunch from home without any disposable packaging. Created a reward system for kids who brought food in reusable containers with no disposable packaging. (Learn more.)	2008-2009
Paper Towel Reduction Campaign Launched a campaign to raise awareness on the use of paper towels in school, creating a slogan and tracking usage patterns. (Learn more.)	2008-2009
Year 2
Clean Plate Club Promoted reduction in food waste by rewarding students who ate their entire lunch. (Learn more.)	2009-2010
Environmental Talent Show Held a performance night featuring poems on the environment, percussion performances using recycled cans as drums, and various recycling-themed acts. (Learn more.)	2009-2010
Recycled Art Project Used recycled & reused materials to create individual art pieces, many with an environmental theme. (Learn more.)	2009-2010
Year 3
Reusable Silverware in the Lunchroom Replaced plastic utensils with reusable metal silverware to eliminate the amount of waste created in the lunchroom each day. (Learn more.)	2010-2011
Paper Towel Reduction Campaign A paper towel reduction campaign raises awareness on the use of paper towels in school, with the goal of reducing consumption. Students create a slogan and track usage patterns. (Learn more.)	2010-2011

Waste Assessment Results

Every school in the program performs at least one waste assessment every year. This activity helps to show progress made and areas that still need improvement.

Percentage of Trash categorized as Recyclable
(Lower is better!)*

64%

75%

33%

25%

2008
(Fall)

2009
(Spring)

2010
(Spring)

2010
(Fall)

Year

*The presence of recyclable materials in the trash means students & teachers are not correctly sorting items they throw away. The lower the percentage, the more successful the recycling program.


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I think you guys are fabulous. You keep our green program moving, otherwise it would be dead in the water.