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Success Story: Vashon Island School District
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Vashon School District
District custodian poses next to special plastic bottle recycling container. |
Number of schools in the district: 3
Participated in the King County Green Schools Program: 2003–2005
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Increased recycling rate at Vashon High School from 18 percent to 32 percent
- Increased recycling rate at Chautauqua Elementary from 22 percent to 32 percent
- Placed recycling signs, provided by the King County Green Schools Program, in every classroom in the district
- Placed recycling containers, provided by King County Green Schools Program, in classrooms and public areas throughout the district.
- Added recycling containers, provided by the King County Green Schools Program, for plastic bottles and aluminum cans at Vashon High School and McMurray Middle School
- Conducted outreach to students to encourage recycling and waste reduction. Outreach included morning announcements, lunchtime booths and newspaper articles
- Initiated collection of cooking oil to be used on Vashon Island as bio-diesel
Energy Conservation
- Placed stickers on all light switches reminding students and staff to turn off lights when vacating each room
- Placed messages on computer equipment reminding users to turn off equipment after use
- Conducted energy audit with Puget Sound Energy
- Added weather stripping to improve insulation
- Adjusted settings on water heaters
- Installed utility manager software, provided by Puget Sound Energy, to track energy consumption and costs
Hazardous Waste Management and Reduction
- Initiated a recycling collection program for fluorescent tubes
- Participated in science lab hazardous waste assistance program provided by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County
- Put plan in place to safely dispose of photography chemicals
- Purchased spill response kits for all schools
Water Conservation
- Participated in two water audits paid for by King County and Water District 19, including an indoor audit for Vashon High School and an outdoor irrigation audit for ball fields
- Repaired leaks in boys locker room in Vashon High School
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