Happy Composting

Check out these attractive compostable bags we used at the school holiday bake sale.  With all the extra parties and food at this time of year, the holiday season is a good time to think about composting.  Food scraps, food soiled paper, coffee grounds and paper filters are just some of the things that can go in your green bin.  Don't forget that all those Thanksgiving leftovers (and bones) you don't end up finishing go in the green bin!  Click here for more information.

The importance of sorting

You would be surprised how many preschoolers can tell you whether something goes in the green compost bin, blue recycle bin, or black waste bin.  These sorting bins can now be found in 2 of the school classrooms.  Some of our handy parents assembled the Trofast storage furniture from Ikea and the 28 qt bins with stickers from Recology fit perfectly.  If you have a question about which bin to use at home, just ask your child!

Waste-Free Wednesday Success!

Thank you to all the families that helped make our first Waste-Free Wednesday a success today!  Lots of reusable containers, cloth napkins, and water bottles were sighted and a lot less plastic bags, drink boxes, and cheese sticks.  Our next date will be December 1st.  (and don't forget Trashless Thursday tomorrow for our T, R families)

Did you know....?

20 million plastic bags go in the landfill everyday in the U.S.  Yikes!  Opt for reusable containers when packing lunches and snacks.  Be sure to check out this nifty sign that Jessica made from recycled materials!  You can find it on the school bulletin board and check back often because the "Did You Know" fact will be updated every couple of weeks.

Can it be art?

Before you toss it in the trash or recycling bin, think to yourself, "can this be art?"  If the answer is yes, bring it to school! The teachers have been encouraging the children to think of new ways to use old items in art projects.  Here are just a few examples of things to donate: glass jars, corks, egg cartons, old cards and wrapping paper, newspaper, buttons, ribbon, fabric, screws, washers, etc.  One person's trash becomes another's artistic treasure.  Now you can be on the lookout for recycled art materials and enjoy the masterpieces your little ones create!

Waste-Free Wednesday

We are gearing up for our first monthly Waste-Free Wednesday lunch on Nov 3rd (Trashless Thursday 11/4 for T,R families).  Our reusable lunch container sale was huge success and we made more than $600 for the school!  The favorites of many were the adorable cotton napkins, lunchskins, lunchbots, and the planetbox.  So, start thinking about how you can reduce waste in your child's lunch and please leave a comment if you have any tips to share! 

A simple cup of coffee



Only $7.99 at World Market!

Everything our children see at preschool creates a lasting impression.  What better way to start our greening journey than for our kids to see reusable coffee cups in the hands of their teachers every morning?  So, please be sure to compliment the staff on the stylish new ceramic cups and lids provided by the greening committee!  For anyone else looking for more reasons to make the switch to a reusable cup, here are a few staggering facts:

The U.S. uses more than 16 billion cups for coffee each year.

This is the equivalent of 6.5 million trees.

The FDA only allows 10% recycled content in paper cups, but most have none.
The majority of these paper coffee cups end up in landfill.

(If you do find yourself with a paper cup in hand in SF, make sure it gets into a green compost bin along with those coffee grounds!)