School District Waste Reduction Programs 

Starting a waste reduction program in your school district is possible! There are many fine examples of successful waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting, and buy recycled programs in school districts throughout the state. These include rural programs that collect cafeteria waste for vermicomposting and urban school districts that take advantage of cooperative recycled product purchasing opportunities. Many school districts have developed active, successful programs that reduce waste and save money. Such efforts also provide an excellent complement to a school's environmental education efforts and present wonderful service learning opportunities.

The CIWMB is completing its School District Diversion Project, in which comprehensive waste assessments were performed at six pilot school districts (Visalia Unified School District, Ravenswood City Elementary School District, Long Beach Unified School District, Placer Union High School District, Santee School District, and Barstow Unified School District). The waste assessment findings and lessons learned at these pilot school districts provided the foundation for the development of a Web-based resource guide to encourage the development of waste reduction programs in California school districts.

This resource guide will provide information for school district administrators regarding the benefits and value of implementing a districtwide waste reduction program. It will also promote the integration of such a program through the adoption of a districtwide waste reduction policy. Additionally, the resource guide will detail waste reduction strategies that can be implemented within each department within a school district's administration (e.g., maintenance and operations, purchasing, transportation, food services, etc.).

These strategies should be incorporated into the school district's administrative procedures. The resource guide also contains sample districtwide waste reduction policies, sample requests for proposals for recycling services, case studies, fact sheets, publications, estimated statewide school waste composition data, funding opportunities, and other useful resources. This resource guide is expected to be available on the CIWMB Web site early next year. In the meantime, for information on school district waste reduction assistance, case studies, funding opportunities, and other resources, visit the CIWMB's Schools Web site or call the our Office of Local Assistance at (916) 341-6199.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008