The California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) recognized RethinkWaste’s Environmental Education (EE) Team at its annual conference in Burlingame on August 14, 2023 as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding School Recycling Program.
This award honors a school or an entity partnered with schools that have excelled in implementing programs and practices that promote waste reduction, reuse, recycling and/or compost at school campuses.
In 2022, RethinkWaste’s EE Team implemented a mixture of both on-site and virtual instruction after developing a variety of new materials for hybrid learning. Staff conducted 99 online and in-person assemblies and presentations, accounting for about 103 hours of instruction. Specifically, the EE Team focused on providing tools for educators, emphasizing refresher waste education and continued environmental education even in the physical absence of RethinkWaste staff. The EE Team also complimented virtual offerings with in-person campus visits and custodial trainings when possible.
The EE Team launched the full RethinkWaste In-Schools Program at new schools and engaged with previously participating schools, reaching a total of 19 campuses in the agency’s service area. Staff also provided adult-focused education to school staff, administrators and parents. In total, the RethinkWaste EE Team connected with approximately 5,680 students spread across eight of its 11 Member Agencies: Burlingame, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Mateo, and San Carlos.
We extend a warm thank you to CRRA, our community and organizational partners, schools, students, custodians, Green Champions, and our own amazing Environmental Education Team for everyone’s joint efforts to support schools in their waste journeys!