News
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Harding Elementary School Leads the Way in Environmental Sustainability Efforts
Harding Elementary School is leading the way when it comes to environmental sustainability efforts. On Friday, April 25, from 10:45-Noon, the principal, students, and staff, will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the launch of Harding’s zero-waste cafeteria. Participating in the event will be Superintendent Brian Sarvis, Mayor Marty Blum, City Councilwoman Helene Schneider, and the districts’ board members Kate Parker and Nancy Harter will be in attendance.
This project was done in collaboration with the city’s Environmental Services Division. According to the city officials, Harding is the only school cafeteria in the state that composts or recycles all the waste that it generates in the lunch program, including disposable plates and sporks made from vegetable-based materials. At the State of the City 2008 Address, Harding’s efforts were commended as the project links to the city’s sustainability efforts.
This is a unique partnership and a unique program. According to Stephen MacIntosh, who runs the city’s Environmental Services Division, Harding is the first school in the state to compost everything in the lunch program. Thus far, the city’s research suggests that only one other school cafeteria in the nation is a zero-waste facility. Harding would be the second.
According to Mr. MacIntosh, an Allied Waste service truck picks up Harding’s waste and takes it to their corporate yard where it is placed in a 20-cubic yard bin. Each week, the waste is taken by Engel and Gray to their composting facility, just outside of Santa Maria. Ninety days later, the food scraps and tableware have turned into valuable soil amendment (compost). He noted that in order to be a zero-waste facility, there are choices that the school has to make. For example, milk and juice cartons that are ordered must be compost-able by not having the typical multi-layer packaging content (e.g., aluminum packaging).
On Friday, as part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, five yards of the compost will be delivered to Harding for use on school grounds.
Mr. MacIntosh added, “Harding recently received Looking Good Santa Barbara’s Spirit of Service Award for outstanding school environmental program. Their choice of Harding as the leading school in environmental programs is very significant.”
Dr. Sally Kingston, principal, stated, “We are celebrating a great partnership with the city’s environment services division; the districts’ facilities department; our parents, students, and teachers; and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. We are honored that city council member Helene Schneider is a member and active participant of Harding School’s Environment Committee.” She added, “The zero-waste cafeteria complements our schoolwide recycling and composting program. Harding’s Environment Committee is very active and we have some exciting projects coming up.”
Superintendent Brian Sarvis said, “Harding School is to be commended for being at the forefront on sustainability issues. Harding’s efforts will make a significant difference in the environment and sets an example for our community, the state, and the nation.”
Harding is located at 1625 Robbins Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
Santa Barbara School Districts’ Superintendent Brian Sarvis, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, Bob Engel of composting firm Engel and Gray, Harding School Principal Sally Kingston, and City Council Member Helene Schneider test the compost generated from Harding Elementary School’s zero-waste program. Harding Elementary School is the first school in the state to compost everything in its school lunch program.