Zero Waste Solutions
PATHWAYS TO SOLUTIONARY ACTION
GENERAL PATHWAYS TO ACTION FOR CAMPUS, CURRICULUM, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
CAMPUS Examples
Entry-Level: Conduct a baseline audit of waste streams on campus.
Mid-Level: Improve the schools waste stream through diverting, reducing, and reusing materials.
Full Integration: Create a comprehensive and integrative zero waste plan, with the goal of achieving a Zero-Waste facility. These plans address both upstream and downstream waste issues through purchasing policies, waste reduction programs, and increased diversion.
CURRICULUM Examples
Entry-Level: Provide students with supplemental lessons that examine the waste system.
Mid Level: Create lessons for students to examine the waste system from multiple lenses and identify economic, social, and environmental issues. Students then apply their learning by collecting data from their campuses, developing awareness campaigns and setting up action plans for their school.
Full Integration: Deliver a zero-waste curriculum to every student in the school. Ongoing education paired with campus events and facilities affords students a comprehensive understanding of the waste system.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE Examples
Entry-Level: Host a one-off school and/or community-wide event about the importance of waste and consumption with at least 10% participation.
Mid-Level: Participate in a short-term awareness or action campaign focusing on waste diversion with 20-50% participation in the school community.
Full Integration: Implement an ongoing awareness or action campaign focusing on waste diversion with over 50% participation in the school community.
COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT RESOURCES FOR STUDENT, TEACHER, AND ADMINISTRATOR LEADERS
A community impact project (CIP) is service work done by a person or group of people that benefits a local community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.).
Student-Led Projects: Leading solutionary community impact projects allow student voices to be heard and incorporated into local policy, provides an opportunity for youth to develop leadership skills and career training, and can make lasting impacts that improve the health and wellbeing of a community. This resource provides a framework for student-led projects, as well as examples.
Teacher and Administrator-Led Projects: Leading solutionary projects provides an opportunity for administrators and teachers to make lasting impacts that improve the health and wellbeing of a school community. This resource provides a framework for administrator and teacher-led projects, as well as examples.
SOLUTIONARY EXAMPLES FROM DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
San Bruno Park Elementary District Tri-Bin System: San Bruno Park District implements a tri-bin waste system across the district
Principal Case Study: Colleen Hennessy at Rollingwood Elementary - Principal focused on Zero Waste
Principal Case Study: Nuala O' Sullivan-Haley at Garden Village Elementary - Principal focused on Waste and Living Schoolyards
Pescadero Elementary - Lunchtime waste sorting and on-site composting program
Burlingame Intermediate School (BSD)- Recycled Materials Collection and Recycled Art Competition
Tierra Linda Middle School (2019-20) & 2020-21 - Eliminate Plastic Water Bottles and beach cleanups
Aragon High School (SMUHSD)- Green Club Zero waste video and recycling competition
Carlmont High School (SUHSD)- Green Club and Custodian launch an organics collection program
Half Moon Bay High School (CUSD) - HMB High Environmental Club tri-bin sorting installation and school-wide zero waste education
South San Francisco High School (SSFUSD): YCA Students install on-site demonstration composting system.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Serendipity School - Recycled Art, Trash Free Friday, Public Service Announcements, etc.
Millbrae Leos Club (Community Youth Group) - Successful outreach campaign "Bags to Benches" to collect hundreds of pounds of plastic to be diverted from landfills to make community-accessible benches.
Crystal Springs Uplands School 2019-20 & 2020-21 (Independent)- Green Club launches composting program and promotes zero waste through community events and collective action on event goodie bags.