On Monday December 5, 2011, Marshall Elementary School and Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) commenced an expanded food scrap recycling program, with liquid bucket, recycling bin, organics bin and garbage.  With the addition of Marshall and several other schools over the last year or so, now all 9 elementary schools in the Castro Valley Unified School District have food scrap recycling programs.  The programs required a combined effort and have a big impact on waste reduction at school.

In addition to starting food scrap recycling at lunch, Marshall will be putting organics bins in their restrooms for paper towel composting.  Organics (food and food-soiled paper) are about 1/4 of what a school throws away so the addition of organics is a big boost to diversion from the landfill.  Marshall will also be the first school in Castro Valley to go with a smaller garbage bin at lunch to show students how little actually goes in the garbage.

Thanks to all of these outstanding efforts and the leadership of Principal, Walt Lewis and Teacher Meghan Mar, Marshall will be significantly reducing their waste at school.  By doing so, they will also be teaching students how much garbage we can redirect from the landfill to recycling or composting.  Great job Marshall Elementary!