Fall is finally here. The leaves are turning yellow and red. Families and teachers are settling in with back-to-school schedules. It’s the perfect time to make reducing, reusing, and recycling part of new routines at home and school.

Schools in Auburn are already taking a fresh approach to greening up the classroom. For example, at Mountainview High School, teachers and student groups worked together to produce a music video demonstrating how to participate in waste reduction programs. At Chinook Elementary School, a comprehensive waste program was implemented to educate students about recycling, waste identification, and composting practices.

These schools, along with 17 others in Auburn, are part of the King County Green Schools program, which provides schools with the support and resources needed practice resource conservation and engage students and staff in environmental stewardship. Other local schools that have earned certification include Arthur Jacobsen Elementary, Cascade Middle School, Evergreen Heights Elementary, Gildo Rey Elementary, Lakeland Hills Elementary, Lea Hill Elementary, Olympic Middle School, and Washington Elementary.

Certification begins with organizing a Green Team and assessing improvement opportunities. Certification is free and certified schools earn county recognition for their environmental efforts.

Another energizing way to step up sustainability at school is to tap community resources. Host an assembly about waste reduction and recycling, and invite local green leaders to share their success stories. Or, take a field trip to Waste Management’s Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville. A visit to the recycling center provides an up-close look at how Waste Management uses the latest technologies – magnets, air jets, optical sorters – to reduce what goes to landfills. To schedule a visit, email recyclenw@wm.com. We welcome requests from teachers and parents as well as community groups.

And sustainability doesn’t stop there. Even though students are now spending most of their time at school, there are also opportunities to make better choices at home.

In the United States, up to 40 percent of food is wasted every year. Instead of becoming a statistic, pack a healthy mix of what students are most likely to eat (easier said than done, of course) and encourage discussion about how we all need to do our part to reduce waste.

A waste-free lunch is a good idea, too. Try a reusable lunch box and containers, rather than buying bags that you’ll throw away every day. This goes for cloth napkins, silverware, and drink containers, as well.

It’s also a good idea to take a few minutes to refresh your recycling routine at home. Adjust signage and improve organization so putting the right materials in the right containers is quick and easy in every room. If you need to replace signs on containers, you can print out guidelines from the Waste Management website at wmnorthwest.com.

So, yes, fall is here and it means new, busy schedules. This year, let’s embrace it as a time to start new routines that make real and lasting change in our community and the world.

Michelle Metzler is the education & outreach coordinator for Waste Management (wm.com).