Posted: Oct. 27, 2009

At Dixon Elementary School, the future looks a lot like the past - at least in the lunch room, where the school has switched from disposable plastic utensils back to metal silverware in an effort to cut down on waste.

Teachers and parents suggested making the switch along with several other new initiatives designed by Dixon staff to reduce the school's environmental impact while teaching students about how their choices affect the world around them. Principal Jeanne Siegenthaler said the effort fits well with Dixon's theme for the year.

"Our theme this year is 'Myself, my community, my world,' and we just really felt that … this was the time now to really increase that initiative," she said.

Besides generating less waste than plastic utensils, silverware is cheaper, Siegenthaler said.

"With the cost-effectiveness, they (food service) will be ahead financially by the end of the year," she said.

The silverware is washed twice in an onsite dishwasher also used to clean lunch trays.

Outside the cafeteria, new recycling bins have been added to several areas inside and outside the building, paid for by a $3,000 grant from Waukesha County Recycling. The grant also paid for a large paper recycling bin on wheels, which student volunteers use each day to collect recyclable paper from classrooms.

Posters in Dixon bathrooms encourage students to "take the paper towel challenge" and use just one paper towel each time they wash their hands.

"We're trying to get the kids to not be so wasteful," Siegenthaler said.

Eventually, the paper towels will be replaced by hand driers, which Siegenthaler said are cheaper and greener.

Maribeth Sullivan, a county recycling specialist, said programs like Dixons' not only keep recyclables out of landfills but help reduce costly tipping fees.

"Everything you can keep out of that trash Dumpster benefits everyone in numerous ways," she said.

Sullivan recently spoke to Dixon students to explain how recycling works and why it's important. That educational component is almost as important as the recycling itself.

"You can't just have bins," she said. "You have to educate people and tell them why they should be using them in the first place."

Sullivan works with other schools across the county, including Brookfield Central High School, where a student organization helps collect recyclables and teach other students about recycling.

"It's going districtwide, and that's a really good thing," she said.

FYI

Recyclables are collected weekly in both Brookfield and Elm Grove on the same day as trash collection. They should be placed in the blue plastic bins issued to each household.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Tour the Waukesha County Material Recycling Facility and enjoy refreshments at an open house.

WHERE: 220 S. Prairie Ave., Waukesha

WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 14

ONLINE: visit waukeshacounty.gov and click on the "Recycling Information" link