Issaquah's 'Green' Schools Recognized By King County

From King County: Schools from 34 King County cities and unincorporated areas are reducing waste, increasing recycling, conserving resources, and cutting costs with help from the King County Green Schools Program. The program provides hands-on help and the tools that schools need, such as recycling containers and signs, to make improvements.

“This spring we are recognizing 83 schools and two school districts for their conservation practices. Collectively, they have contributed to King County being one of the most environmentally responsible counties in the nation, especially when it comes to recycling,” said Pat D. McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.

The program has served a growing number of schools each year - from 70 schools in 2008 to 290 schools as of this year, totaling 58 percent of the K-12 schools in King County outside the City of Seattle.

Of the 290 schools that have participated in the program, 252 schools have been recognized as Level One King County Green Schools for their waste reduction and recycling practices. The program also has recognized 147 schools for Level Two energy conservation practices, 107 schools for Level Three water conservation and pollution prevention practices, and 70 schools as Sustaining Green Schools for maintaining and building on their Level One through Three practices.

The program helps teach students and staff to only recycle materials they know can be recycled. To reduce contamination in recycling bins and ensure markets for the collected recyclable materials, important messages such as “no liquids or food in recycling bins” are emphasized. Students in turn bring these lessons home.

“The schools and school districts we’re recognizing this spring have initiated or improved sustainable practices that encourage students and employees to reduce paper use, reduce food waste, recycle, and conserve energy and water, all of which reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change,” said Dale Alekel, Green Schools Program manager.

Student Green Teams promoted walking, biking and carpooling to school, encouraged their peers to use durable water bottles, and mentored teams in other schools. Schools created gardens, set up share tables to reduce waste of unopened food from school lunch programs, and switched from disposable or compostable trays to reusable trays.

In addition to Green Schools Program assistance and recognition, King County offers educational programs such as an elementary school assembly program and classroom workshops for grades 1–12 that teach students about conservation.

Learn more by contacting Alekel at 206-477-5267 or dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.

School District Recognition

King County Green Schools Program is recognizing Issaquah School District as a Sustaining Green School District for maintaining waste reduction and recycling (Level One), energy conservation (Level Two), and water conservation (Level Three) practices, and for completing additional conservation actions. This is the first year any school district has met Sustaining Green School District criteria.

One criterion is that 75 percent or more schools in the district completed Sustaining Green School criteria in the past two years. Issaquah school recycling rates exceeded the Green Schools Program recognition criterion of a 40 percent or higher recycling rate.

Seventy-five percent (18 schools) of the district’s 24 schools have been recognized as Sustaining Green Schools. All 24 schools participate in the King County Green Schools Program and have been recognized as Level One Green Schools for effective waste reduction and recycling practices. Twenty-two schools have been recognized as Level Two Green Schools for their energy conservation education and practices, and 20 schools as Level Three Green Schools for their water conservation education and practices.

Sustainability is one of the district’s priorities. Its annual report includes environmental education course requirements, key conservation programs, a comprehensive review of utilities use, and conservation success stories. District resource conservation manager Chris Bruno monitors school facility utility bills and supports school and district sustainability goals.

Dawn Wallace, director of teaching and learning, leads a district Green Team of school Green Team advisors, resource conservation manager, and food service and maintenance directors who meet three times each year to discuss best practices, successes, challenges, and mentoring opportunities between schools.

Curriculum in each grade level includes education about sustainability. Partnering with the King County Green Schools Program and City of Issaquah, the district organizes an annual sustainability summit for secondary school students. The nonprofit Sustainability Ambassadors organizes Sustainability Talks, similar to TED Talks, as an opportunity for students to hear from local experts about sustainability.

All classrooms, offices, and cafeterias have recycling bins and signs. All district schools collect compostable materials for commercial composting. School recycling rates range from an estimated 45 percent to 90 percent. Waste reduction and recycling are included in annual custodial trainings.

Twenty-one schools have student Green Teams leading sustainability activities such as assisting with proper waste sorting in cafeterias, and creating conservation posters, videos, and educational campaigns. Several schools have native, edible plant, or rain gardens where students learn about plant science and contribute to garden maintenance.

In this school year, to reduce wasted food, share tables were set up in all 15 elementary schools for unopened, packaged items from the school lunch program that students placed on their trays but did not eat. Students who want extra food or drink items helped themselves to items on share tables. Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank provided weekly collection of items not taken by students. Since the launch in September 2017, the food bank has collected 7,800 pounds of milk, yogurt, fruits, and other items for distribution to community members in need.

Thanks to coordinated efforts of lead custodians, kitchen and lunchroom employees, and student volunteers, 13 elementary schools switched from disposable to durable, reusable utensils over the past two years. The district reduced disposable utensil purchases by half, for an annual reduction of about 300,000 disposable utensils.

School Recognition

Sustaining Green Schools 2017-18

Issaquah schools recognized as Sustaining Green Schools for maintaining Level One, Two, and Three practices, and completing an additional conservation action or educational strategy:

• Apollo Elementary School
• Beaver Lake Middle School
• Briarwood Elementary School
• Cascade Ridge Elementary School
• Challenger Elementary School
• Clark Elementary School

• Creekside Elementary School
• Discovery Elementary School
• Endeavour Elementary School
• Grand Ridge Elementary School
• Issaquah High School
• Issaquah Middle School
• Maywood Middle School
• Newcastle Elementary School
• Pine Lake Middle School

• Sunny Hills Elementary School
• Sunset Elementary School

Level Three (water conservation and pollution prevention)

Issaquah schools recognized for maintaining Level One and Two practices, and engaged students and employees in water conservation and pollution prevention actions:

• Pacific Cascade Middle School
• Skyline High School

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