Madrona School, a K-8 school in the Edmonds School District, recently received Level 1 certification from the Washington Green Schools program due to its focus on recycling/waste reduction and energy efficiency. The school’s Green Team added composting and TerraCycling during the lunch periods to the recycling program it already had in place to make it one of 20 schools in the state to achieve Level 1 certification.

 

“Systemic change is traditionally hard in schools, but this Green Schools initiative has taken hold quickly at Madrona and is dramatically changing not only our waste reduction habits here at school, but influencing the choices we make in our homes,” said Principal Lynda Fischer. “Our students’ enthusiasm for changing how we reduce waste and recycle has been absolutely contagious!”

 

The school will be honored on Wednesday, May 26 for achieving this certification by the Washington Green Schools program. It will also received a Terry Husseman Sustainable Schools award from the Department of Ecology. State Rep. Maralyn Chase and Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson will join the school in celebrating this accomplishment.

 

Teachers Nancy Spencer and Johanna Kalmus, along with their students in SND and Renaissance centers, the school’s head custodian John Young, assistant principal Craig Baldwin, and food service worker Jody White lead the Madrona Green Team, with significant support from the Madrona Integrated Team, individual parents, and the district’s resource conservation specialist Pandora Touart.

 

The school has decreased its energy use, particularly electricity, which is down 8 percent, and increased the amount of food waste recycled. Since February, the school has recycled approximately four and a half tons of food waste. The efforts have also reduced Madrona’s garbage bill by approximately $100 per month.

 

Washington Green Schools provides a free, web-based structure, tools, and resources for public and private K-12 schools to use to reduce their campus environmental footprint and utility costs. Student leadership and community service are also key goals. Washington Green Schools was developed by environmental and education experts throughout the state and is currently funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. More information is available at https://www.wagreenschools.org