SERVICES AVAILABLE: 

• Green Ribbon Schools Program – This program rewards schools for implementing sustainable waste reduction and recycling programs.  Annual awards of up to $2,775 per school are given.  The 2011/12 Green Ribbon Schools program application will be posted soon.  Click here to see which schools became certified Green Ribbon Schools in 2010/11.
• Environmental Education – After more than a decade, CVSan proudly continues to offer its 4Rs Field Trip for 3rd graders.  Call 510-537-0757 to register or click here for pre-field trip lessons and roster.  Speakers are also available to present to teachers and staff, students in after school programs, and other school groups.  Click here to complete a Community Group Outreach request form to request a speaker.
• Free Recycling & Organics Services – CVSan offers free recycling and organics collection services to schools through its contract with Waste Management.  Contact Waste Management at 510-613-8751 to sign up for service or to make service changes.
• Technical Assistance – CVSan and Waste Management staff are available to perform a free site assessment at your school.  A recycling coordinator will evaluate your school’s potential to prevent waste, as well as recycle or compost materials that currently go in the garbage.  Contact CVSan at 510-537-0757 for more information.
• Financial Assistance – CVSan provides recycling containers, signs, bags, and recycled products to Castro Valley schools.  In fact, more than $5,000 worth of these supplies were donated to schools last school year.  Click here complete at Donation Request Form or to learn more about donations available.
• Food Scrap Recycling – Recycling food scraps at school can be challenging, but it is often the single most effective waste reduction action a school can take.  Castro Valley schools that compost food scraps divert an average of 73% of their waste away from landfill!  Click here for a step-by-step guide to starting a food scrap recycling program at your school.

• Earth Day Clean-Up with Free Compost & Mulch – Sign-up to participate in CVSan’s Earth Day event on April 28, 2012 to clean up and beautify your campus.  Participating schools are eligible to receive free compost and mulch.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Sample Survey of Recycling Habits for Schools
• Classroom activity to identify over-packaged items
• Standard Operating Practices for Schools

Energize for the Prize

Energize for the Prize is an opportunity for schools and school organizations to raise money by promoting energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners in Alameda County.  Click here for more information.

Schools in Alameda County generate 4% of the waste deposited in landfills annually. That’s 48,000 tons of waste a year generated by the more than 350 schools in the County.  Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) provides technical and financial assistance in designing and/or enhancing waste reduction and recycling programs for Castro Valley schools.  If you are ready to reduce the amount of waste your school creates, we are ready to help you.

Click here for a list of schools eligible to receive the services offered by CVSan.

WASTE AUDITS:

Waste audits are now being scheduled for the period of October, 2011 through February, 2012.  Contact Michelle Knudson, at (510) 537-0757 or michellek@cvsan.org 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 or during field trips. This will misrepresent the waste generated at your school. 

School Diversion Rates March 2011

For more information, including weekly garbage service levels, please click here.  

Waste Reduction and Recycling Resources Guide for Castro Valley Schools