Zero Waste update at Magellan

By:

MIS Zero Waste Program 

Goal: Integrate a zero waste culture that promotes 4 Rs, reduce, recycle, reuse and repair, while  implementing  new ways to reduce the amount of waste generated by the school that ends in up in landfills. This program engages students in learning a new way to look at “trash” and understand its impacts.

Watch video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfsiYW6uoHo&feature=youtu.be

Overview

In February, the school participated in the pilot phase of the MIS Zero Waste program to observe behaviors and habits, and determine the types and amounts of waste generated at both campuses. The program was launched with a video about recycling, produced by first grade students, and by placing new bins to sort waste, bought with funds from a fundraising effort. Currently, program efforts are focused on recycling paper, reusing materials for art and “upcycling” glue containers, food wrappers and juice pouches through a company called Terracycle. Over the next months, the program will grow to encompass direct efforts on single stream recycling and food composting.

People involved:

Five (5) teachers and the curricular coordinator, two (2) members of the staff, two (2)  external volunteers, (1) one parent, 29 students, and 3 companies/organizations. Starting next school year, the whole school will be involved, and students of all grades will have specific tasks regarding this program.

Completed actions

- Pilot phase to observe behaviors and habits, and generate a baseline against which to measure progress

- Reinforcement of MIS recycling culture

- Waste audit at both campuses by City of Austin’s Mr. Keith Bible

- Organic waste audit at Chimney Corners by Green Thumb Compost

- Launch of Zero Waste program with an educational tool “video TV-Recicla” produced by 1^st grade teachers and students. All the school watched the video on Feb 10, 2012.

 Outcomes

- Students produced educational materials (video, posters, and signs)

- Students raised funds through “Art With Purpose project” for MIS Zero Waste program and new color-coded bins were placed at both campuses to sort waste

- Staff received training regarding recycling and upcycling. Parents received training regarding upcycling

-The school integrated MIS Zero Waste program as one of its current 5 green priorities.

 

Watch video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfsiYW6uoHo&feature=youtu.be