Girdwood K-8 Elementary has been an ASD Green School since Septemeber 2018. In the past, Girdwood has only recycled mixed paper. Starting in 2018-2019 schools year, we have a new recycling dumpster that can accommodate a lot more items. The team had to get more receptacles, teach each class where to find the recycling bins and what items go in each bin, and make a schedule of when the recycling would be picked up. 

On October 11th & 12th 2018 we performed a cafeteria Waste Characterization Study (WCS) for Girdwood Elementary. The goal of the study was to analyze the types of waste generated during the lunch period and raise awareness of the quantity of food waste generated during such study. Below find the results of the study. During the study, we found that the waste was broken down pretty evenly in three categories - School lunch, home lunch, and uneaten cafeteria leftovers. 

For Girdwood Elementary to reduce their waste the following is recommended:

1. Have staff promote students to eat all their food.
2. Optimize amounts of food being cooked, striving to generate little to no left-overs.
3. Have students who bring home-packed food, take their leftovers back to their parents. This will allow parents to identify items their children don't like and search for alternatives.
4. As parents, talk to your children about their lunch and find alternatives that will encourage them to eat everything.
5. Encourage parents to pack waste-free lunches to reduce the amount of single-use packing materials. 
6. Create events such as "Trash Free Thursdays" to raise waste reduction awareness.