EUSD Wins Outstanding Waste Prevention Program Award

Encinitas Union School District:

The Encinitas Union School District was chosen as a 2013 Award winner by the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), California’s statewide recycling association, for “Outstanding Waste Prevention Program” in recognition of the District’s SCRAP Cart lunch waste program which has achieved an impressive 83% reduction of lunch time waste. CRRA is the oldest and one of the largest non-profit recycling organizations in the United States.

The SCRAP Carts were designed by the District’s Green Consultants, Healthy Day Partners in collaboration with the school district‘s Green Team. The Green Team members include parents, teachers, district personnel and community partners. Healthy Day Partners initiated the SCRAP Carts as a pilot program in 2012 and after their immediate success the SCRAP Cart program was officially implemented at all nine sites; making recycling and food scrap composting a system-wide policy.

In addition to the impressive reduction in overall waste resulting in reduced costs to the district, school gardens are benefiting with materials for their composting and worm bins. The greatest benefit seen is the hands-on experience the students receive in supporting and recognizing the impact of conservation and recycling efforts to their environment.

Encinitas Union School District Board of Trustees member Carol Skiljan represented the District along with Healthy Day Partners in accepting the award at CRRA’s Statewide Annual Conference in Pasadena on August 13, 2013. Carol had this to say, “We are so proud to have Encinitas USD recognized with this award. Kudos to our awesome Encinitas USD Green Team and Healthy Day Partners for making waste diversion standard practice in our district and teaching our students sustainability practices for our/their future!”