Allen Brook is a relatively new elementary school serving students in grades K through 4. Built in 1997, the school has 430 students and 39 faculty and staff. Waste reduction and recycling have been priorities from the start. According to Phil Higgins, principal of Allen Brook School, "If we can start young kids recycling and caring for their environment now, hopefully it will become second nature to them as adults." From collection and purchasing to composting and hazardous waste management, Allen Brook does it all.

Each classroom and office has a blue bin for collecting mixed paper, which includes white and colored paper, envelopes, newspaper, magazines, and paper bags. Bottles and cans are collected in the cafeteria. Deposit containers are kept separate and the refund money goes into to a pizza fund. Corrugated cardboard is recycled in an outside dumpster.

In all, Allen Brook recycles about 50% of its waste by volume -- over 16 * ton per year. According to their hauler, All Cycle Waste, Inc., recycling saves Allen Brook about $3,600 per year in disposal fees!

Allen Brook is also helping to "close the loop" by purchasing recycled content products whenever possible. The school currently uses recycled copier paper, colored paper, bath tissue, and paper towels -- all made with at least 20% post-consumer recycled content. According to Purchasing Manager Cindy Pavlik, "The recycled paper products work just as well and cost about the same."

In January, Allen Brook will start collecting food scraps for composting. Kitchen staff and students will place all leftover food in special bins that will be transported by All Cycle Waste to the Intervale Compost Project in Burlington. The school's food scraps will be composted along with leaves and manure and converted into a nutrient rich soil amendment. "This is a much higher end use than throwing the food scraps in the trash or down an in-sink disposal," says McArdle.

In terms of hazardous waste management, Allen Brook is a model school. The Building Director, Kelly Trayah tries to reduce the use of hazardous materials whenever possible. "We eliminated the use of rubber cement last year," says Trayah, "and we make a point of using less toxic cleaning products whenever possible." All fluorescent light tubes, ballasts, and other hazardous wastes are taken to the Hazardous Waste Depot in Burlington.

Teachers at Allen Brook School strive to teach students all about the three R's: reducing, reusing, and recycling. Some of their educational programs include composting with worms, making recycled paper, and touring the Intervale Compost Project. To help kick off the new composting program, there will be a special all school theater performance of "Chef Suzette's Feedbag Restaurant" on January 19. The program is performed by the Association of Vermont Recyclers and sponsored by Chittenden Solid Waste District.