HallowGreen Fall Carnival

By:

• Bryker Woods Elementary has always tried to reduce wastes at school events.  
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• In the past we have used recycle and compost bins around campus.  However, with such large events, items tend to get mixed and therefore become contaminated and not recycled or composted.  This year we used the same bins and added signs that said "KNOW BEFORE YOU THROW" and we labeled the bins with visual sings as to where to place Compostable Materials and where to place NON-Compostable Materials.  We listed specific examples 
• Because items still get mixed thus contaminating the batch, this year we decided to take an additional active approach to reducing waste by doing the following:
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• Promote families to bring in personal waterbottles and cups to use at our refllable water cooler 
• Purchased pizza for purchase, composting the cardboard pizza boxes
• Served Maine Root root beer, recyling the bottles
• Served food with compostable food service materials only. 

In review of our bins at the end of the night, the waste impact was reduced due to our additional approach to materials used.  While containers were still contaminated with the wrong items, our waste was significantly reduced!

One of the 6 bins used in the background.  Two dividers per bin.  One labeled "Compost" and one labeled "Trash".

Recycled glass bottles from Maine Root Beer was handled by the adults and pizza boxes ALL went into our Compost Bins.

Below was an email that was sent to families prior to the event:

HALLOWGREEN

We do everything we can to leave the smallest possible footprint. Bring a water bottle for water. We’re a low impact event so try your best to keep waste to an absolute minimum. Use the sorting bins provided by the Go Green Committee and place compostable and recyclable items in the appropriate disposal frames. We shut down promptly at 7 p.m. to save on energy costs.

DINING AT THE TOP OF THE NUTRITION PYRAMID: CARNIVAL FOOD & DRINK

This year we will have Austin's Pizza and each slice will cost 5 tickets. There is absolutely no prohibition on bringing your own food but please make sure you clean up after yourself—we are a minimal waste event. Quench your thirst with Maine Root Root Beer (Fair Trade Certified, organic natural sugar cane juice, caffeine free) for 3 tickets, or with free water from Hill Country Springs (Ice Cold, Locally-Sourced). Note: the water is free. If you don’t bring your own waterbottle and need a compostable cup, that’s 1 ticket. Indulge in some gelato from Teo’s (6 tickets) and at the Sweet Shoppe (ticket prices vary). The Sweet Shoppe is collecting treats to sell Saturday in Mrs. Sharpe's room... if the rain encourages you to bake!