ACDS Launches Recycling Initiative with Ridwell Partnership

Almaden Country Day School (ACDS) is taking action to reduce plastic waste on campus by being among the first schools in the area to partner with Ridwell, a company specializing in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. As part of this effort, ACDS is hosting a plastic film drive and encouraging families to participate. 

With the help of PSA, new white "Ridwell" bins have been placed at key locations on campus to collect plastic items such as grocery bags, bubble wrap, and food packaging that are not accepted by standard recycling services. In addition, special bins in student eating areas will be used to collect food wrappers like chip bags and granola bar wrappers, with the help of the student-led Green Team.

The Green Team, ideated by Makerspace Director Joanne Papini and studio arts teacher Weronika Zaluska, is designed to be a student-led group focused on creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle campus waste including using plastic waste to create sculptures and the new reusable posters (and spirit sticks) recently created by Orchard students for the Volleyball Championship game.

Papini shared, “Makerspace has always been a hub for donations and reusing so when students in my Sea of Designs elective started collecting plastic and CDs, etc. for their sculptures and lamps, we knew the school needed a team to help collect, wash, and sort!” Weekly Green Team meetings will be held every Wednesday in the makerspace from 12:05 to 12:20 PM. For now, students in grades 4th and up are welcome to join, produce educational videos, design posters, and develop sustainable solutions.

Families can also support the school’s efforts by signing up for Ridwell collection services through the ACDS campaign page. When 10 families join, ACDS will earn ongoing plastic pickups from January to June. When 20 families join Ridwell, the school will earn a field trip for the students to visit the Ridwell facilities. To learn more about this campaign and to sign up for Ridwell services, click here.

The Green Team efforts are part of a larger vision to bring more service learning opportunities to our campus. “At our first Green Team meeting, students were presented with a few areas of concern on campus about recycling collection. The students worked together to present possible solutions” noted Sara Sobkoviak, Director of Auxiliary Programs. “Solutions-based service learning opportunities, like The Green Team, help foster a connection to place by engaging students directly with their community and environment through meaningful, hands-on activities.