Students Changing the World, One Piece of Trash at a Time

You’ll be hard pressed to find a waste basket in the state-of-the-art, energy efficient and environmentally designed Manchester Essex Regional School, at least one that has any trash in it. On the other hand, stainless steel compost pails, recycling stations, cartridge and battery collections, blue bins and eye-catching recycling signage can be found throughout the school halls, classrooms and cafeteria.

Even a visit to the restroom enlightens the avid recycler with a sign reading - “Recycle ALL wet and dry paper towels”- which is accompanied by a convenient blue bin.

Terracycling pails, in addition to the usual recycling bins, are found in each classroom and allow for the collection of hard-to-recycle materials, such as cellophane packaging, drink pouches, energy bar and chip wrappers, pens, dry erase markers, etc. These materials are then retrieved by students who participate in MERSD’s Green Team in-house internship program and are eventually packed up and shipped to groups who make products from this 'trash.'

Next to each printer is an in-box for paper that has been printed on one side and above the box are bold instructions on how to how to print on the blank side.

“When it makes sense, we use paper from the box instead of a clean sheet,” explained a Green Team student tour guide. “Also, every time a student prints out page, five cents is deducted from their account starting balance of $7.50,” he continued, “that way students are careful about selecting only the pages they want to print out.”

In the cafeteria everyone visits the Lucindomatic - a 10 foot long, stainless steel, sorting station specially designed to handle lunchroom waste and utensils. Everyone participates and takes responsibility to clean and sort things. Liquids are directed into one bin.  Recyclables, food scraps, silverware, and trash (if there is any) goes into other bins.

“We are able to buy compostable food tray which are more costly than the Styrofoam ones because we save money by using real silverware,” said the Green Team member. “We don’t budget for plastic utensils and we don't use styrofoam.”

Beyond managing the waste, the school has many ‘green’ features that were incorporated into its blueprints. Skylights bathe halls in filtered natural light, solar panels on a white reflective roof provide its electricity, and all appliances, including computers and lights, are energy efficient. Innovative designs such as window shelves that bounce natural, glare-free light into the classrooms are the norm and restroom toilets have dual flush systems to conserve water. A CO2 monitoring air ventilation system and windows that open ensure that the air quality is always healthy. The Green Team manages the school’s vegetable garden which consists of over a dozen raised beds. The Team partners with the food service manager who incorporates everything that is harvested into the school lunch selections.

Three years ago, when the school opened, the cost to handle its waste and recycling was $16.03/pupil per year. Today it’s been cut in half to $8.30/pupil. In addition, the school has diverted tons of waste from the incinerators or landfills and is conserving natural resources wherever possible.

But perhaps more significant than the cost savings is the group of wide-eyed students who are being inspired not only by the teachers they see each day, but also, in part, by a ‘green’ building whose mantra provides a unique awareness of their connection to the planet and guides this community of students to make a make a difference each day.

"We don't know of other schools doing what we are doing," said the Green Team member. "But we are willing to share what works for us with others."

Ecknath Easwaran was a spiritual leader who, rather than travel the world and teach to large groups, stayed in one place and taught small groups of people. A saying of his is posted on the wall which reflects what is taking place at MERSD - “Lasting change happens when people see for themselves that a different way of life is more fulfilling that their present one.”