Outstanding K-12 School Program: City of San José Go Green Schools Program (San Jose, CA)

            The City of San José Go Green Schools Program (SJGG) of the City’s Environmental Services Department fosters school recycling and environmental stewardship in a parent- and community-driven process. SJGG was launched in 2005, receiving permanent funding from the City beginning in 2006-2007. SJGG builds on the prior ten years of Environmental Services Department’s part-time recycling assistance to schools. The program serves as a schools environmental resource center, connecting over 100 of the 300 total K-12 San José schools with free recycling supplies and other green resources, encouraging them to green their schools at whatever level and pace they choose.

            Through SJGG, 69 schools have developed recycling programs, and 45 schools have been awarded mini-grants. The program website, its online recycling supplies order process and Resource Directory, generated 30 new school recycling programs in the first three months.