School Recycling & Waste Reduction Resources
Seattle Public Utilities' (SPU's) solid waste services partner with organizations to offer several opportunities for public and private schools resources to help improve recycling and composting and reduce waste.
Public Schools
A Seattle Public Schools Resource Conservation Specialist is available to work with every school in the District to support the transition to mandatory composting and improve recycling and waste prevention efforts.
For more information and resources, visit Seattle Public Schools or contact Rina Fa'amoe at (206) 252-0618 or rtfaamoe@seattleschools.org.
Private Schools
Private schools are eligible to receive free compost, recycling, and garbage containers, posters and stickers through SPU's Green Business Program.
To request these free resources or ask questions about recycling and composting, please call (206) 343-8505 or email greenbusiness@seattle.gov.
School Training & Education
Washington Green Schools provides private and public schools a free web-based Green School Certification program in six categories: Waste and Recycling, School Grounds and Gardening, Water, Healthy School Buildings, Energy, and Transportation. Green Teams implement action projects on their school campus, resulting in awards such as a Washington Green School flag.
You can also contact the company that collects your school's food waste for onsite trainings and presentations:
- Recology offers engaging and hands-on waste reduction, recycling and composting workshops for preschool, elementary and middle school students in Seattle. To schedule training, email educationoutreach@recology.com or call (206) 250-7500.
- Waste Management offers training for school Green/Compost Teams and staff. To schedule training, email recyclenw@wm.com.
- Contact the Cedar Grove Composting education coordinator at (206) 459-6767 for food waste program training for your school's green/compost team, staff, and classrooms.
Tilth Alliance's Master Composter/Soil Builder program is a great resource for presentations about the importance of compost, the decomposition process and the soil food web, how to compost at home, and recycling. Contact tilth@tilthalliance.org or (206) 633-0451, x101, for more information.
Field Trips
Classes are invited to take self-guided tours of the North Transfer station viewing room and tour of the J.P. Patches Viewing Room at the South Transfer Station. The Viewing Room overlooks the tipping floor so visitors can see the station's daily operations and learn about Seattle's solid waste system through educational displays and videos.
Cedar Grove Composting offers occasional facility tours, educational events, and summits. Send an e-mail to tours@cgcompost.com for more information.
Students may also enjoy visiting the Bullitt Center, the greenest commercial building in the world, to learn about a broad range of green building design strategies. Visit the University of Washington Center for Integrated Design website for information on how to schedule a private tour for your students. Regularly scheduled public tours are also available. Tour tickets are $5 per person.