The RISE program is a partnership between Davis Waste Removal, Davis Farm to School, the RCC Group, LLC, an environmental management firm, the City of Davis, and the Davis Joint Unified School District.
The partnership works together to develop an effective
recycling program with the ambitious goal to reduce the solid waste
stream at the eight elementary sites by 50 percent or more.The
partnership places Site RISE Coordinators at each school to work with
custodians and help students recycle during breakfast and lunch. The
students sort their waste into plastics, cans, glass, and paper before
heading to the playground for recess. Students also sort their food
waste - fruits and vegetables
go into a compost bucket for on-site composting, other food waste into
the trash. Those schools participating in the ALL compost project divert
all of their food waste for pick up by Davis Waste Removal.
The main components of the program
- The RISE Coordinator works with the principal, custodian and science teachers to organize the program at each school.
- Students recycle their breakfast and lunch, with the help of the coordinator, other students, parent volunteers, lunch supervisors, or staff - depending on the school's setup.
- Recyclable materials are picked up by Davis Waste Removal.
- Compostable material (fruits and vegetables) are incorporated into the composting system at each school, as part of the school garden curriculum. Schools participating in the ALL compost pilot have their food waste picked up by Davis Waste Removal.