Zero waste plan can save schools a lot of green
Oceanside — Going green has more than one meaning for schools in Oceanside, where a recycling program is predicted to save the district at least $100,000 annually by 2020.
The Oceanside Unified School District adopted a zero-waste resolution on Jan. 21. Similar to a move by the city of Oceanside four years ago, the district’s goal is to recycle 75 to 95 percent of its waste by 2020.
The district’s plan is funded through the city’s Zero Waste Schools Program, which provides each participating school with $3,000 to $5,000 in startup costs. The partnership, believed to be the first of its kind in the state, was recognized at Palmquist School on Friday morning with an event attended by Mayor Jim Wood, Oceanside Unified School District Superintendent Larry Perondi, students, parents, staff and volunteers.
The event was held in front of school’s garden, which is tended by students as part of their life sciences studies. Besides supplying food for the Palmquist cafeteria, the garden contains a compost area to help the school toward its goal of 100 percent recycling.
Colleen Foster, solid waste management analyst for the city, said the OUSD program could be a model for other school districts in the state.
With six OUSD schools already practicing a zero-waste plan, the district plans to introduce two more schools each semester until all 23 campuses are recycling.
Palmquist parents Corrina Goodwin and Jenna Roripaugh suggested a Zero waste plan can save schools a lot of green | UTSanDiego.com:
