Students across the Woodland Joint Unified School District are promoting sustainability through a new composting and recycling program developed in partnership with the city of Woodland.

The “Woodland School Waste Reduction Project” teaches students about the importance of reducing waste, protecting our environment and creating a healthier and more sustainable community.

The program also supports the District’s efforts to meet California’s SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) requirements for diverting waste sent to landfills.

To support this goal, the city of Woodland Environmental Services secured a $210,000 grant from CalRecycle to procure and implement a waste reduction program as well as contract with Woodland local Allison Martin of Blueblossom Consulting to support planning, education, and implementation. The city also leveraged its SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant and funding from the Carton Council to further enhance the program.

At elementary schools across the District, students are now sorting their liquid, recyclables, trash and compostable waste at sorting stations. In addition, the District now provides recyclable trays for students to use.

These programs will soon expand to middle and high schools under the leadership of District Maintenance and Operations staff members Jim Helstowski and Lucy Lepe.

WJUSD Board President Deborah Bautista Zavala highlighted the vital role students play in sustainability efforts.

“Our students are leading the charge in sustainability, taking meaningful action to reduce waste on their campuses,” Zavala said. “Through this partnership with the city of Woodland, they are not only making a positive impact today but also developing lifelong habits that will benefit our community and the environment for years to come.”

Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin shared her pride in the students’ efforts.

“Our students are making a big difference by reducing waste and learning how their actions impact the world around them,” Ortega-Lampkin said. “This partnership with the city of Woodland empowers our students to become responsible environmental stewards, both now and in the future.”

Woodland Mayor Rich Lansburgh commended project partners for delivering an impactful program to Woodland’s youth.

“City Environmental Services staff, our dedicated contractor Allison Martin, and our partners at WJUSD collaborated to bring fun and impactful waste reduction programming directly to local schools,” Lansburgh said. “Woodland students deserve the very best support to learn sustainable practices, and we are proud of the project we have implemented.”

For more information about the Woodland School Waste Reduction Project, click here.