A Greener CCC

This year, Elise (Hazel Rose, BY) created and filled a new parent administrative position at CCC. As the school’s first “Green Guru,” Elise set out to help the community implement eco-friendly procedures, such as using greener products and cutting down on waste throughout the school.

I asked Elise to share some highlights from the past year.

Cleaning alternatives. One accomplishment was the adoption of Benefact, a nontoxic cleaner used in place of bleach products for cleaning surfaces. (Bleach has several known adverse effects on health and the environment.) But, Elise notes that some bleach must still be used for sanitizing dishes, due to licensing requirements for preschools. Purchasing a dishwasher (perhaps a project for the future?) would eliminate the need for bleach, she adds.

Cutting down on waste. Elise had a longtime leaky sink repaired; got the classrooms to start composting soiled paper products through the municipal compost program; and worked to improve the school’s compost system for food scraps. She also worked to cut down on paper towels and dish sponges by collecting old towels and rags to make washable cleaning cloths.

Future Green Projects. Elise has begun investigating solar panels (Do they work? Need to be cleaned? How to maintain?). She has also introduced ideas for greening supplies that teachers usually buy, and she has looked into a green school certification—a project for one to two years down the road.

“There is a lot yet to do, mainly in educating people so participation in all of it is more smooth, and implementing new systems,” says Elise.

The next Green Guru? As administrative positions for next year are being filled, Elise adds her two cents on the future of the Green Guru position: “I feel that if the school wants to commit to sustainability, the Green Guru position should be permanent. I think that is the only way for any more than one year's worth of slow progress to be made in this arena.”

A big thanks to Elise for helping our community to think and act more greenly!