Several local schools recently earned recognition and “eco-grants” from the nonprofit Grades of Green in support of continued efforts to reduce waste.
Students at the California Academy of Mathematics and Science earned the Green Influencer Award and a $500 grant. Earning $250 grants were Keller Dual Immersion Middle School, which won the Campus Advocates Award, and Whittier Elementary School, which won the Most Inspirational Team Award. Rogers Middle School qualified as a finalist this year.
In recent years, local schools have reduced hundreds of tons of waste by participating in Grades of Green programs. Students have learned to pack trash-free lunches, sort materials for recycling, and advocate for environmentally friendly practices.