School Sustainability
Sustain Dane partners with Dane County schools on a variety of sustainability programs. From teaching about waste reduction to implementing compost and recycling programs, we are working to help our local schools create a new generation of sustainability stewards that care about the environment.
Share Tables
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Johns Hopkins University and World Wildlife Fund on a two-year research study focused on reducing food waste in our schools. Through this grant, we’ve introduced share tables at three Madison schools, where students can return unopened food items for others to enjoy. Not only are we conducting food waste audits to see the positive impact of this initiative, but we’re also seeing firsthand how enthusiastic the students are about wasting less and helping their peers.
Carton Recycling
Since 2019, Sustain Dane has proudly led the way in bringing lunchtime carton recycling programs to elementary and middle schools, empowering students to make a positive impact on the environment. This initiative has now expanded to several school districts, and together, we’ve recycled 700,000+ cartons! To put that into perspective, that’s the height of 875 Wisconsin State Capitol buildings stacked on top of each other! Thanks to the generous support of the Carton Council of North America, we’re able to continue growing this important program and fostering a culture of sustainability among young students.
Composting
For two years we piloted a composting pick up at four Madison Elementary Schools. During the first year of the program, we diverted 3,950 pounds of food waste from the landfill and instead sent it to Green Box Compost to be transformed into nutrient-rich soil. With the addition of a fourth school, the second year of this program diverted 7,295 pounds for a grand total of 11,245 pounds.
THANK YOU for your support. It has been way easier than I ever anticipated – mainly due to you! We’ve heard only positive things. It’s been such a pleasure, and I feel so proud about all this work!
Madison Metropolitan School District Video
Metcalfe’s Earth Day Bags
Our partnership with Metcalfe’s Market commemorates Earth Day by bagging groceries in reusable shopping bags that are hand-decorated by students. Sustain Dane staff coordinate and drop off 4,000 bags to Dane County Schools where students decorate them with what Earth Day means to them.