Most times, much of what we find in the garbage that could still be recycled is food scraps (food and food-soiled paper).  And, during school waste audits especially, food scraps are more than half of what is still going in the garbage (about 25% is recycling) that could be going somewhere else.  Please read on to learn more about our excellent School Waste Audit program and to sign up your Castro Valley school today.  Or go to the bottom of the page to find out how to register now.

Shown above, the Castro Valley High School Waste Audit on March 17, 2012

As a key addition towards improving programs and students’ consciousness of how much is going in the garbage that could have been recycled or composted, CVSan has been conducting waste audits with schools since the 2010/11 School Year. Twelve (12) schools participated during 2010/11 and 13 participated during 2011/12.  A Green Ribbon requirement in Castro Valley, waste audits are a great learning experience for students, parents and teachers alike.  Waste Audits are quickly becoming an instrumental tool to encourage the start and improvement of food scrap recycling programs.  For example, the data from all 12 waste audits conducted in 2010/11 showed that, despite many schools having food scrap recycling programs and reduced garbage on the whole, the percentage of organics found in the garbage was still 42%.  CVSan reports on these numbers to school and District staff.  This is a powerful thing to show school staff and District Administrators as schools do not get charged for organics in Castro Valley and so the more they food scrap, the more they save. 

Waste Audit Improvements

For waste audit improvements, this is one time when we want to see garbage increase.  The actual garbage figure is most telling of how much progress has been made and therefore how much work can still be done when coupled with the percentage of recycling and organics in the garbage.   Schools that are completing waste audits, which show food scrap recycling as a large portion of the garbage, are seeing improvements explained even further than just by diversion increases. 

For example, the 2010/11 Palomares Elementary School Waste Audit, a school of about 150 students, had 33 gallons of garbage composed of 33% recycling and 50% organics with actual garbage of only 17%.  For their 2011/12 Waste Audit, they had 33 gallons of garbage again, but their actual garbage went up to 35%, reflecting an increase in recyclables and compostables in the recycling and organics.

Also, the 2010/11 Proctor Elementary School Waste Audit, a school of about 550 students, had 209 gallons of garbage composed of 42% recycling and 42% organics with actual garbage of only 16%.  For their 2011/12 Waste Audit, they had only 143 gallons of garbage, which was a 32% decrease in garbage and reflected the impact of adding a food scrap recycling program after last year’s audit.  Overall, Castro Valley Schools have increased their actual garbage found during the waste audits from 27% in 2010/11 to 33% in 2011/12, all while decreasing their garbage service levels significantly leading to an overall diversion rate of 66% now.  Great job Castro Valley schools!

SCHEDULE YOUR WASTE AUDIT:

Waste audits for 2012/13 are now being scheduled for the period of October, 2012 through February, 2013.  Contact CVSan at contact@cvsan.org or (510) 537-0757  to schedule your waste audit. Together you will select the appropriate day that will be the “School Waste Audit Day.” We recommend performing the waste audit in the morning and anticipate that it will take approximately 45 minutes – 3 hours, depending on the amount of garbage being sorted.  During the Waste Audits, CVSan staff along with 10 students and 2 parent volunteers from your school will sort one day’s worth of garbage to determine what could have been recycled or composted.  Waste Audits are mandatory for all 2011/12 Green Ribbon Schools.  Please click here to download the Volunteer Form. 

Tip: Avoid scheduling an audit after an event at the school, after a shortened or half school day or during field trips. This will misrepresent the waste generated at your school. 

Other CVSan School Programs: 

3rd Grade 4Rs Field Trip

Green Ribbon Schools Program

Schools Food Scrap Recycling Program