2019-20 O.C. Green Star Schools Program Overview
What is the Orange County Green Star Schools Program?
All Orange County schools are invited to join Orange County to work to decrease solid waste in Orange County Schools. By joining the Orange County Green Star Schools Program, schools will be helped to organize and carry out plans that will help them Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Through this strategic partnership with county school districts, namely the students, teachers, administrations, parents, and staff, it is our hope that we can leverage greater resources that can help further improve school waste management practices and generate a wide variety of learning opportunities for students in Orange County.
There are a total of six “Green Stars” in which schools can strive for. Each Green Star represents a level of achievement in waste reduction and recycling. Schools achieve Green Stars by successfully completing a minimum set of mile markers for each Green Star.
While Green Teams are welcome and encouraged to pick and choose mile markers that are attainable for their school, there are mile markers which define each Green Star level and it is highly recommended they are completed for the school to achieve the Green Star level it intends to achieve.
One Green Star
Schools have demonstrated their intention to institute a comprehensive waste prevention, reduction, and recycling program by establishing baseline metrics and developing an outreach plan.
To achieve “One Green Star” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), and School Year Action Plan.
- Waste Analysis (Simple)
Two Green Stars
Schools have built support for their program with teachers, students, parents, and staff by expanding outreach and demonstrating progress in program performance
To achieve “Two Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Three (3) Green Star mile markers, should include Outreach to Students.
Three Green Stars
Schools have garnered district-wide support as evidenced by adapting policy, purchasing, infrastructural, contractual, and other measures recommended for long-term success.
To achieve “Three Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (onlynewly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Six (6) Green Star mile markers; should include Pass Board of Ed. RRR policy.
Four Green Stars
Schools have continued to strive for waste reduction excellence by instituting Organics Diversion (composting/anaerobic digesting).
To achieve “Four Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Eight (8) Green Star mile markers; should include Organics Diversion (composting/anaerobic digesting).
Five Green Stars
Schools have established sustainability as a standard and have a verifiable record of waste reduction.
What is the Orange County Green Star Schools Program?
All Orange County schools are invited to join Orange County to work to decrease solid waste in Orange County Schools. By joining the Orange County Green Star Schools Program, schools will be helped to organize and carry out plans that will help them Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Through this strategic partnership with county school districts, namely the students, teachers, administrations, parents, and staff, it is our hope that we can leverage greater resources that can help further improve school waste management practices and generate a wide variety of learning opportunities for students in Orange County.
There are a total of six “Green Stars” in which schools can strive for. Each Green Star represents a level of achievement in waste reduction and recycling. Schools achieve Green Stars by successfully completing a minimum set of mile markers for each Green Star.
While Green Teams are welcome and encouraged to pick and choose mile markers that are attainable for their school, there are mile markers which define each Green Star level and it is highly recommended they are completed for the school to achieve the Green Star level it intends to achieve.
One Green Star
Schools have demonstrated their intention to institute a comprehensive waste prevention, reduction, and recycling program by establishing baseline metrics and developing an outreach plan.
To achieve “One Green Star” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), and School Year Action Plan.
- Waste Analysis (Simple)
Two Green Stars
Schools have built support for their program with teachers, students, parents, and staff by expanding outreach and demonstrating progress in program performance
To achieve “Two Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Three (3) Green Star mile markers, should include Outreach to Students.
Three Green Stars
Schools have garnered district-wide support as evidenced by adapting policy, purchasing, infrastructural, contractual, and other measures recommended for long-term success.
To achieve “Three Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (onlynewly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Six (6) Green Star mile markers; should include Pass Board of Ed. RRR policy.
Four Green Stars
Schools have continued to strive for waste reduction excellence by instituting Organics Diversion (composting/anaerobic digesting).
To achieve “Four Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (only newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Eight (8) Green Star mile markers; should include Organics Diversion (composting/anaerobic digesting).
Five Green Stars
Schools have established sustainability as a standard and have a verifiable record of waste reduction.
To achieve “Five Green Stars” schools should successfully submit the following:
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (for newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- Nine (9) Green Star mile markers; should include Waste Analysis (Complex).
- A verifiable record of waste reduction from baseline proven in the submission of Waste Analysis (Complex).
Zero Waste Excellence
To achieve “Zero Waste Excellence” a school has successfully demonstrated a 90% reduction in refuse through waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs.
- Evidence of intent and planning by submitting Letter of Intent, Green Team Roll, Pre-Launch Status Report (for newly enrolled schools), School Year Action Plan and an Outreach Milestone Record documenting achievement in school community engagement.
- At minimum of ten (10) Green Star mile markers; should include Locker and Desk Clean Out with Emphasis on Reuse and Recycling.
- A verifiable record of waste reduction of 90% diversion proven in the submission of Waste Analysis (Complex).
