Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program

Schools throughout Boulder County are partnering with Eco-Cycle to move toward Zero Waste through increased recycling efforts, the implementation of composting school-wide, and special waste reduction activities. The project is part of Eco-Cycle’s award-winning  School Recycling and Environmental Education Program.  According to Eco-Cycle, “Green Star Schools are the first in the nation to reduce waste in every aspect of school life. As a result of implementing the program, up to two-thirds of the discards from each of the Green Star Schools is kept out of landfills.”

The program began with four schools in the spring of 2005. Currently, there are more than 13,000 students at the 33 schools enrolled. Thirteen additional schools have already signed up to join the program and are eager to start working toward Zero Waste. 

Objectives

• Reduce Waste
• Increase Recycling
• Implement Collection of Compostables
• Improve Environmental Awareness & Motivate Participation
• Lower Each School’s Trash Bill

A New Way of Doing Lunch

One of the most noticeable changes for students at Green Star Schools is their new way of handling lunch leftovers.

During the lunch hour, instead of dumping food scraps, plastic utensils and excess packaging into a trash can, kids use a special station where they deposit reusable service ware into hot, soapy water to be washed and reused; milk and juice containers into a recycling bin; and sandwich crusts, banana peels, other food leftovers, and non-recyclable paper such as napkins or paper towels into a compost bin.

Meet Our Green Star Schools

2007
Lyons Elementary
Niwot Elementary

2009
Eagle Crest Elementary
Longmont Estates Elementary

2010
Blue Mountain Elementary School

2011
Red Hawk Elementary

2013
Burlington Elementary School
Central Elementary

2014
Hygiene Elementary School

2015
Indian Peaks Elementary School

2016
Lyons Middle Senior High School

2017
Sunset Middle School

2018
Altona Middle School
Northridge Elementary School