Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program

Schools throughout our district are partnering with Eco-Cycle to move toward Zero Waste through increased recycling efforts, the implementation of composting school-wide, and special waste reduction activities.

The project is part of Eco-Cycle’s award-winning  School Recycling and Environmental Education Program.  According to Eco-Cycle, “Green Star Schools are the first in the nation to reduce waste in every aspect of school life. As a result of implementing the program, up to two-thirds of the discards from each of the Green Star Schools is kept out of landfills.” The program began with four schools in the spring of 2005. Currently, there are more than 11,500 students at the 22 St. Vrain schools enrolled.

Objectives

• Reduce Waste
• Increase Recycling
• Implement Collection of Compostables
• Improve Environmental Awareness & Motivate Participation
• Lower Each School’s Trash Bill

A New Way of Doing Lunch

At Green Star Schools, students have embraced an innovative approach to managing lunch leftovers, promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness. Rather than discarding their food scraps, plastic utensils, and food packaging into the trash, students now utilize dedicated stations designed to separate discards. 

During lunch, students sort their items accordingly: reusable service ware is placed into bins filled with warm and soapy water for thorough washing and reuse; milk and juice cartons, plastic bottles, and cans are placed directly into recycling bins; while organic discards such as sandwich crusts, banana peels, and other food leftovers are carefully deposited into compost bins. 

This initiative both minimizes waste sent to landfills and instills a sense of responsibility and stewardship for our environment among the student body in participating schools. 

The above chart reflects the 2023 diversion rates for Green Star Schools in St. Vrain Valley School District, with 5% in compost, 36.2% in recycling and 58.8% in trash.

Meet Our Green Star Schools

2007
Lyons Elementary
Niwot Elementary

2009
Eagle Crest Elementary
Longmont Estates Elementary

2010
Blue Mountain Elementary

2011
Red Hawk Elementary

2013
Burlington Elementary
Central Elementary

2014
Hygiene Elementary

2015
Indian Peaks Elementary

2016
Lyons Middle Senior High

2017
Sunset Middle School

2018
Altona Middle School
Northridge Elementary School

2019
Mountain View Elementary

2021
Columbine Elementary
Niwot High
Silver Creek High

2022
Fall River Elementary

2023
Timberline PK-8
Longmont High
Westview Middle