Remind students, teachers, and other staff members to recycle right. Avoid “wish-cycling” — placing materials in a recycling bin because you hope they can be recycled! Only place accepted items in recycling bins. A recycling bin contaminated with unacceptable materials such as liquids and food can lead to an entire truckload of recyclable items being…
National Make a Difference Day began in 1992 with the purpose of getting everyone outside and giving back to nature. We all have busy schedules, and with the little bit of time we get to ourselves, we might hesitate to spend it picking up trash from city streets or pulling invasive weeds from parks. But…
Halloween can result in a lot of waste: all the candy wrappers, the single-use costumes, the thousands of carved pumpkins. During holidays we get caught up in all the fun and forget to stop and think about all the unnecessary waste we produce. There are many ways to be green during Halloween. Ideas from the…
The new school year starts soon! Use these next few weeks to practice green habits as you prepare to return to the classroom. Since according to research, our brains can most easily remember seven pieces of information at a time, here are seven practices for a more sustainable planet to start out your school year.…
Though summer is upon us and school is out, remember to keep up the good habits of being environmental stewards you’ve practiced during the school year. During the summer, you can focus your recycling, composting, and reducing at home. Donate any old clothing, including single socks and shoes that have lost their mates. Or use…
This year’s Earth Heroes at School were celebrated at an event in early May. King County is grateful for all the good work by these schools, students, teachers, staff and volunteers to protect our environment now and in the future. Curious to know what it takes to have the title of an Earth Hero? Here…
Let’s Talk Trash Workshop How does your garbage affect natural resources, energy, and climate change? Students discover the connections by participating in a “talk show” hosted by a presenter from our Solid Waste Division school program classroom workshops. Students work in small teams and become experts on how recycling and waste prevention help save landfill…
China is the largest user of recyclable materials from the United States. Several factors make China a good market for U.S. recyclers, particularly those on the Pacific coast. Shipping costs are low, and China has a high need for recyclable materials for manufacturing products. China also has lower labor costs to sort contaminants from recyclable materials. Last year, China…
Easy ways to help the environment are to compost your food waste and not waste food. On average, Americans waste about 25 percent of all food and drinks we buy. That’s not only wasting food, that’s wasted money – $130 every month. By helping prevent food waste, you are also saving water, energy and fuel…
This holiday season, no need to buy new decorations and gift wrapping. Avoid the cost, clutter, and stress. Make this holiday season friendly to you and the environment! Here are some eco-friendly steps from our EcoConsumer website: Give Green! Make holiday gifts from household items or buy them with a small budget. The best part…
Go, Green Team 