For the Reporter

The King County Green Schools Program has recognized Rainier Middle School for its waste reduction, recycling and energy conservation.

Schools from 35 King County cities and unincorporated areas are reducing waste, increasing recycling, conserving resources and cutting costs with help from the program. The program provides hands-on help and the tools that schools need, such as recycling containers, signs and guidance for school teams to make improvements.

Rainier Middle School expanded its waste reduction and recycling practices by starting to collect compostable materials.

Among Rainier’s efforts:

• The school set up a share container for students to place unopened, packaged school lunch foods for other students to take.

• Green Team students regularly shared energy conservation facts and tips.

• Rainier’s science links classes studied energy use and created posters about energy conservation.

• Science classes calculated their carbon footprints and learned how to reduce their impact.

• To reduce energy use, timers were installed on vending machine lights, and custodians closed exterior doors, windows and blinds and turned off lights and electronic equipment when not in use.

The program has served a growing number of schools each year – from 70 schools in 2008 to 270 schools currently, which is 54 percent of all K-12 schools in King County outside Seattle.

“We’re pleased to recognize eight schools for their contributions toward helping us achieve our goal of a 70 percent recycling rate in King County, and for guiding their students and staff to conserve valuable natural resources,” said Pat D. McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.

In addition to Green Schools Program assistance, King County offers an elementary school assembly program and classroom workshops for grades 1-12 that teach students about conservation.

Learn more by contacting Alekel at 206-477-5267 or dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.