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Composting and Recycling

Composting and Recycling at SPS

Composting and Recycling are Mandatory

Seattle Public Schools comply with mandatory composting and recycling rules. This means everyone must not place items in the garbage unless the items cannot be composted or recycled. The City may fine schools may for non-compliance.

  • Plastic straws and utensils have been prohibited since July 1, 2018 under Ordinance 21.36.086.
  • Compostable materials have been prohibited from the garbage in Seattle since January 2015 under Ordinance #124582.
  • Recyclable materials have been prohibited from the garbage in Seattle since 2005 under Ordinance #121372 and #124313.

Benefits of Composting and Recycling

  • When we dispose of items in a landfill costs at least four times more then we pay for recycling and composting service. We lose money every time we put recyclable or compostable items in the garbage.
  • Recycling and composting reduces our carbon footprint, diverting materials from the landfill for reuse.
  • Recycling and composting helps us to model environmental stewardship to our students, staff, and school communities.

Background

  • It’s the law. Recyclable materials have been prohibited from the garbage in Seattle since 2005 (Ordinance #124313.) Compostable materials were prohibited from the garbage starting in January 2015 (Ordinance #124582.) Plastic straws and utensils have been prohibited since July 1, 2018 (Ordinance 21.36.086.) Fines of $250 can be collected for each violation.
  • Recycling and composting saves money. At SPS, disposing of something in the garbage costs four times more than recycling. We piloted improvements to recycling and composting at ten schools. Most of the pilot schools reduced their garbage costs by over 24%. When expanded to all schools in the District, this could annually save over $100,000.
  • It’s better for the environment & our students. Recycling and composting reduces our carbon footprint, diverts materials from the landfill, and turns them into usable products. It’s our responsibility to model environmental stewardship to our students, staff, and school communities (SPS Policy and Superintendent Procedures 6810.)

Resources

Posters (large files)

Videos from SPS

Principals

Ensure that the school is properly sorting and disposing of compost, recycling, and garbage. School Green Teams are highly effective for teaching “what goes where,” and reducing contamination in indoor containers.

Teachers and Administrators

Roles & Responsibilities for Staff

  • When you are done with an item make sure to place it in the proper container.
  • Make sure that your classroom containers meet district standards:
    • Place a pair of containers -one recycle with one garbage within five feet of your door
    • Place appropriate signage above each container
      • Check that your classroom containers are not contaminated. If students place items in the wrong container, retrain them to sort correctly, to avoid school-based fines.

Nutrition Services Staff

  • When you are done with an item make sure to place it in the proper container.
  • Work with the custodian to make sure that the kitchen has enough containers in the right places for compost, recycling, and garbage.
  • Use a spatula of spoon to clean items before placing them in the blue recycling container.
  • Work with Resource Conservation staff to make sure that helpful sorting posters are placed near or on the right containers.
    • Note: Nutrition Services staff are not responsible for providing supplies to school Green Teams, nor sorting or monitoring kitchen containers for contamination.

Custodial Staff

  • When you are done with an item make sure to place it in the proper container.
  • Refuse Container Standards & Placement Guidelines can assist in where to place containers and what type of containers to use.
  • Every day remove waste from the building. This includes:
    • All recycling and garbage containers
    • Cafeteria “liquids buckets”
    • Compost containers in kitchen, student cafeteria, staff lounge, and classes where food is cooked.
    • Separate soaking or stacking section for reusable trays and utensils.
  • Take the time to train all staff on your water procedures.
  • Line containers with the appropriate bags. Make sure that you have enough of each type of bag. Order more bags before you run out using B2B. http://snocww05/operations/Product%20Information/OrderingLinerBags_1-2015.pdf
  • Manage containers using the proper equipment, such as tilt trucks and tandem dollies. Make sure that your equipment is clean and in good working order.
  • Check to make sure that you have the right sized outdoor dumpsters. If your dumpster, or dumpsters are not entirely fulleach time they are picked upthen we can save money by either paying for fewer pick-ups or a smaller dumpster. Call SPS Dispatch at 2-0602 to adjust your dumpsters and avoid wasting money for oversized container costs.
  • Make sure that custodial staff only use our standard containers color-coded by type of material. Blue recycle containers for recycling. Green compost containers for compost. Black containers for garbage that goes to the landfill.
    • Note: Custodial staff are not responsible for sorting or monitoring indoor containers for contamination.

Resource Conservation Specialist (RCS)

  • Supply appropriate signage, containers, and equipment to ensure compliance with the laws.
  • Work with the school to ensure that there is a sustainable method for servicing the containers.
  • Work with the custodians and waste hauler on right-sizing outdoor dumpsters.
  • Help the school certify or re-certify as a Washington Green School in the Recycling & Waste Reduction category, to earn state-wide recognition for conservation efforts.

Videos for Custodial Staff: Watch the videos on Vimeo

Learn More

Videos: