A Journey Into A Schools Environmental Improvements:2007-2009W.D. Ferris Elementary Richmond School District

An Unique SchoolFerris Elementary was first opened in 1960To date it has undergone 5 additionsEach addition has created a new courtyardLargest elementary in Richmond: 550 students and 50 staff

1977

An Unique SchoolFerris Elementary was first opened in 1960To date it has undergone 5 additionsEach addition has created a new courtyardLargest elementary in Richmond: 550 students and 50 staff

19772000GYMChanges at Ferris2005

In the last two years we have worked on the following projects: Reviewing our paper recycling Enhancing our blue box program Expanding our compost collection school-wide Exploring our garbage

Before we could make these changes we needed to further educate the school: We made PA announcements, posters and bulletin boards We conducted classroom visits We sent home information in the school newsletters

We enhanced our blue box recycling program2007 / 2008

Beverage containersGlassPlastics (#1,2, & 5)Metal

2008 / 2009

Beverage containersGlassPlastics (#1,2,4 & 5)MetalMilk cartons

We collected and sorted: Twice a week2007 / 2008

aluminum cans 573plastic water bottle 854glass 15bi metal 49pouch 258Tetra pak 7745Gable 41

Total collected: 9535Everyday2008 / 2009 (to Jan.)

aluminum cans 725plastic water bottle 1541glass 43bi metal 57pouch 653Tetra Pak 7151Gable 37Milk 1010

Total collected:11217

We introduced composting to the entire school

4 additional backyard composters purchased

We began presenting at assemblies: teaching students/staff of the importance of composting

Oct. 2007 - 4 classes started collecting compost

Feb. 2008 - 20 out of 24 classes were collecting

Sept. 2008 - all classes were collecting compost

2007 / 2008 2008 / 2009

5 Kg / week 15 Kg / weekCollected Compost(fruit and vegetable)

To see how effective our recycling and composting programs were working we needed to explore what was in our schools garbage.

To understand the garbage we needed to:

Get a number of samples on different days, times and from different classes(6 classes - 1/4 of the school) Classify the garbage Measure it

Oct. 2007 - 5 KgFeb. 2009 - 3.5 KgWe collected and compared the recess and lunch garbage from 6 classes during two school years.

We were amazed at the data:

The huge amount of food and potential compost that was being thrown out!

Recyclables that were still being thrown out!

The amount of non - recyclables that end up in our garbage!

While we were disappointed we measured the garbage to see if we had made any progress.2007 / 20082008 / 2009

40 Kg per lunch25 Kg per lunch

75 Kg per day55 Kg per day

~15 Tonnes / year~11 Tonnes / year

We have made some good improvements in reducing the schools ecological footprint, but we have much to improve on.

Our plan for the next two years:

improve our existing compost/recycling programs try encourage students/staff to bring litter-less lunches and reduce our garbage

Our plan for the next two years: try other composting methods inside their classes:Vermi-composting (worms) EM Bokashi (anaerobic method of fermenting various food types,including: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, chicken, cheese, rice, bread)

Environmental Stewards: Division Six - Ferris Elementary Science JamRichmond Centre Mall, 25 Feb. 2009

This is the story of the how the renovation of our schools courtyard led to changes in how we deal with garbage.