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Committee explores high-school pilot for Zero Waste Schools and tackles local composting gaps
Summary
Penelope reported work with 0 Waste Marin to pilot Zero Waste Schools at Redwood High School, including clear compost bins and behavioral surveys; a resident alleged local malls falsely claim to compost, and staff said 0 Waste Marin is investigating.
Penelope told the committee she has been working with 0 Waste Marin to explore bringing the organization's Zero Waste Schools educational program to high schools; currently the program serves about 40 elementary schools in Marin County. The committee discussed piloting at Redwood High School, using measurable interventions such as clear compost bins and behavior surveys, and linking the effort to Marin County and school leadership.
Ideas included an audit program, extra-credit classroom participation, and a clothing/bedding drive to divert textiles from landfill. Committee members emphasized measurement and outreach design, noting high-school logistics (off-campus lunches and dispersed student locations) make behavior-change work more challenging than at elementary schools.
A resident raised an allegation that some local mall operators advertise composting but do not separate organics at store collection points; staff replied that 0 Waste Marin is aware of contamination issues at malls and will work with waste haulers (Sierra Waste Marin) and mall operators to address compliance under state law. The committee also discussed the possibility of local composting capacity and noted that most collected green waste currently goes to the Redwood Landfill composting facility.
Next steps: Penelope will follow up with 0 Waste Marin on high-school pilot details and collect statistics on Redwood High School student residency to clarify pilot scope.
