Learning Lunch: Sustainability at Lincoln Public Schools

More than half of the trash and waste created at Lincoln Public Schools is diverted from the landfill through recycling, composting and reusing.

That translates into: Over 1.2 million pounds of materials recycled annually in our school district – over 900,000 pounds of organic materials composted – and over 39,000 pounds of LPS stuff reused.

“LPS has more than 70 buildings, more than 8 million square feet to manage – students, staff and community members coming in and out, all using resources,” explained Brittney Albin, sustainability coordinator at LPS, speaking at the March Learning Lunch.

Albin’s job is to stay vigilant and prevent as many of those LPS resources as possible from ever reaching the landfill.

“But my job is actually twofold,” she said. “I help us reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability … But we are a K-12 school district and it is also my job to help foster environmental stewardship among our staff and students.” 

Albin is proud of LPS successes, noting the district was named a Green Ribbon School District in 2015, an accomplishment that required three pillars: Reducing environmental impact, leading in health and wellness, and increasing sustainability literacy.

She credited the LPS Board of Education for following up and approving an official sustainability policy in 2019, therein enhancing the district-wide culture of sustainability.

Meantime, she said, the school district has continued to work on improving its efforts and success in sustainability.  

Green schools: Albin said LPS has created a clear path for individual schools to become “green,” outlining these steps: Designating sustainability champion/s at schools to lead the effort, participating in the recognition program that rewards a wide breadth of “green” initiatives and activities, and organizing a green team of school environmental activists. 

Instruction: Albin stressed that part of her mission is to create student stewards who understand, practice and advocate for sustainable efforts. She pointed to one simple example, the Garbology unit now included in the kindergarten curriculum.

Transportation: LPS is constantly looking for ways to reduce emissions, a major piece of sustainability, Albin said, pointing out there are now seven EV charging stations at LPS – located at all six high schools and the Operations facility. She said calculations indicate those stations and the use of electric vehicles have saved 5,333kg greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of planting 137 trees and letting them grow for 10 years.

Gardens and outdoor learning: LPS now features about 25 school gardens in outdoor learning spaces, thanks to a variety of community partners. She said there are many examples, but pointed to the recent project organized by The Career Academy’s FFA Chapter – helping build raised flower beds at Mickle and Dawes middle schools, and Saratoga Elementary.

Waste: Albin said the LPS goal continues to be reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, and recover – which has resulted in a 54 percent district diversion rate (keeping LPS garbage out of the landfill).

• Recycling:  LPS recycles traditional materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum, but also more behind-the-scenes resources such as milk cartons, metal, electronics, pallets, books, cartridges, lights and batteries.
• Composting: Currently 61 buildings at LPS have joined the cafeteria composting program that collects organic materials.
• Reuse:  LPS encourages the reuse of materials through a variety of programs such as the auction program, surplus disbursement, books and oil reuse.

New schools: Albin said she works closely to bring increased sustainability to new schools under construction.  She said that Northwest High School – opening this fall – will have the district’s first garden roof. In addition, other possible features include enhanced and preserved wetlands, native plants, greenhouse and garden classrooms, outdoor classrooms, a vehicle charging station and permeable pavers.

Albin said she has many long-term goals in her vision for sustainability at LPS: Zero waste, gardens and outdoor learning spaces at every building, increased engagement and curriculum connections through after-school clubs, and a districtwide sustainability master plan.

Meantime, if you want to help, she said there are many options: 

• If you are connected to a school, ask if they have a sustainability champion – then reach out and ask how you can help.
• Celebrate Earth Day on April 22.
• Participate in the annual Cans4Books Recycling Drive in April, bring your aluminum cans to Green Quest Recycling and designate which school library you want to support.
• Support an existing garden space or help start a new one.

Please join LPS for the next Learning Lunch in person or on Zoom: Noon Wednesday, April 20, “How Does Science Really Work?  Dogs and Turnips.”

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