Under the leadership of MDP grantee One Cool Earth, students sorted and weighed waste according to material type and whether it was bound for the landfill, recycling, or compost bin (largely dependent on the degree of "ooey gooeyness"). The audit marked the launch of recycling service at the school as well as vermicompost bins on the school grounds. The programs will be ushered in by a "green team" of upper-grade students stationed at recycle and compost bins during lunch.

In the 2016-2017 school year, One Cool Earth is working with 17 schools in the Paso Robles and Atascadero School Districts. Each school receives a series of classroom lectures and assemblies related to marine debris and source reduction, and completes a waste audit before and after the implementation of new recycling and/or composting programs. One Cool Earth is working on a short film of the process, with the hopes of encouraging similar efforts at other schools.

For more information, contact Sherry.Lippiatt@noaa.gov.

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