On Wednesday April 30th, more than 30 educators, sustainability coordinators, and facilities staff from PAISBOA member schools came together for the group’s semiannual sustainability meeting, co-organized by PAISBOA and Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants (BSEC). This spring’s gathering was hosted by The Agnes Irwin School (AIS) and offered a space to share ideas, explore campus initiatives, and build connections around school sustainability.

Every day, the average American produces 4.9 pounds of trash — a staggering amount that contributes to overflowing landfills and environmental harm. A significant portion of this waste comes from food. In fact, 30-40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted, the equivalent of bringing home three grocery bags and tossing one straight into the trash.

By making small changes, we can reduce waste, save money and help protect the planet. Let's make every day Earth Day, starting with what's on our plates.

At Abington Friends School (AFS), sustainability isn’t just a concept, it’s something that students are actively engaging with and exploring. Under the direction of Middle School science teacher Virginia Friedman, 7th-grade students took on a hands-on sustainability challenge: identifying areas where the school could reduce waste and become more environmentally responsible.

Did you know the average American produces nearly 5 pounds of waste per day (EPA, 2024)? Schools generate a significant amount of waste, from lunch trays to classroom materials, much of which could be diverted from landfills.

To better understand their impact, 7th Grade students at Abington Friends School conducted a waste audit, sorting and analyzing a school day’s worth of trash.

At EB Coffee & Pub (EB), owner Justin Nichols and his team envision a vibrant community hub where every cup of coffee tells a story of quality, sustainability, and connection. From reducing waste with recyclable and reusable materials, to prioritizing local suppliers, and fostering partnerships with local community groups, the goal is to make sustainability an integral part of daily operations. EB Coffee & Pub demonstrates how small, local businesses can contribute to a sustainable future.

Middlebury College has positioned itself as a leading environmentally-conscious institution and is one of the first colleges/universities in the world to achieve carbon neutrality. A core part of the college’s mission statement emphasizes “addressing the world’s most challenging problems” – a vision that the community has actively pursued through its deep commitment to environmentalism and sustainability. By creating a roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2016, this vision has come to fruition, though the journey hasn’t always been easy.

Fallen leaves provide crucial winter protection for insects and invertebrates like butterflies, moths, and beetles. For example, wooly bear and great spangled fritillary caterpillars rely on leaves for warmth and food. By participating in the “Leave the Leaves” campaign, schools can support these ecosystems on their own grounds. Imagine designating a section of the schoolyard as a “wild zone” where leaves are left undisturbed, creating a living laboratory for students to observe changes throughout the seasons.

Last month I sat down with Colleen Falicki, on her Speaking of Sustainability podcast, and Founder of Back to Earth Compost. We discussed 3 ways individuals can reduce their environmental footprint including reducing food waste. Here’s a link to the podcast.

Boyer Sudduth has created a list of school grants for K-12 schools with links to the application and due dates for the 2024 fall and winter.

Former Sustainability Intern, Sophia Sahni, visited Melbourne, Australia as part of her gap year. She was intrigued with Melbourne’s commitment to sustainability – especially in the way citizens commute. Read on to hear about her experience.

Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, is reimagining its campus grounds into a more sustainable one. After an 8 month long collaborative effort between Skidmore’s Sustainability Office, Skidmore’s Facilities Department, and a consulting group: The LA Group, a Sustainability Landscape Plan (SLP) was born. The SLP works in conjunction with two other informative Skidmore plans, the Campus Master Plan (2022) and the Sustainability Plan (2015-2025). The SLP helps pave a roadmap for future projects as the college continues to evolve.

On March 6, PAISBOA Sustainability Group met virtually to review the Sustainability School Survey results, now in its third year. The survey aims to document the sustainability practices and progress among PAISBOA schools, and enables individual schools to see where they fall in comparison to peer institutions. PAISBOA’s Ron Hill and Boyer Sudduth’s Mary Ann Boyer and intern, Fernando Leon Rueda, shared the survey findings.

Surrounded by 55 acres of lush green landscape, Dana Hall School is situated in the town of Wellesley, a suburb of Boston, MA. This independent boarding and day school for girls grades 5-12 is currently on an ambitious mission. Since July 2022, Dana Hall has been renovating their entire Upper School Building in a way that reflects their value for sustainability. Here is how this small school is tackling this big project.

Want to enhance your school through a funded environmental project? Here are six tips to get you started on your grant writing ventures!

Panelists at the PAISBOA Low Waste Virtual Meeting share their tips for reducing waste from changing behavior, to educating people about recycling right, to recycling electronic waste.

On March 8, the PAISBOA Sustainability Group hosted a virtual panel discussion: “Leading Change: Environmental Sustainability at Your School.” Panelists included Lisa Carbone Warren, Director of Finance & Operations at Moorestown Friends School (MFS), and Carolyn Hapeman, Dean of Finance & Operations at Westtown School and Mary Ann Boyer of Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.