Climate Action in Schools
Schools are the heart of our communities and shape the future of our children.
With the right support, schools can also help create a greener, healthier, and brighter world for our students.
Sustainable Marin Schools (SMS) is delighted to partner with the Novato Unified School District (NUSD) on this mission.
Working within the schools, SMS helps schools reach their goals through our four main programs:
Zero Waste Energy Efficiency/Electrification Environmental Literacy Greening Schoolyards
Thanks to the instrumental support of our school communities, SMS and NUSD have made great strides in
greening our school campuses, and educating a new generation of environmentally literate and
empowered global stewards ready to make their mark on a carbon-free future.
With the right support, schools can also help create a greener, healthier, and brighter world for our students.
Sustainable Marin Schools (SMS) is delighted to partner with the Novato Unified School District (NUSD) on this mission.
Working within the schools, SMS helps schools reach their goals through our four main programs:
Zero Waste Energy Efficiency/Electrification Environmental Literacy Greening Schoolyards
Thanks to the instrumental support of our school communities, SMS and NUSD have made great strides in
greening our school campuses, and educating a new generation of environmentally literate and
empowered global stewards ready to make their mark on a carbon-free future.
What's New Marin County Parks' Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems (FARE) Grant We're thrilled to announce that Sustainable Marin Schools has received the Marin County Parks' Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems (FARE) Grant. With a strong focus on regenerative agriculture, we'll be utilizing the $198,000 grant to establish two new gardens:
In addition to constructing these new gardens, the funding will also be allocated towards supporting our existing gardens, garden teachers, and expanding garden classes for students. This initiative not only enriches environmental education for Novato students but increases food production for students, families, and community. With the aim of creating greener and more resilient schoolyards, the funds will support the expansion of pollinator and rain gardens. To oversee and coordinate these exciting initiatives, SMS will employ a District-Wide Garden Manager for a period of 3 years. We can't wait to see our gardens and students flourish! 2024-2025 California Climate Action Corps Fellows SMS has received a generous grant of $200,000 to support six full-time CCAC fellows for 11 months during the 2024-2035 school year! This funding will allow us to expand upon the remarkable achievements of the 2023-24 fellows in areas such as Zero Waste, Environmental Literacy, and Campus Greening/Resilience. We're excited to meet the new team! Celebrating Success in Our Schools Sustainable Marin Schools is proud of our work in partnership with Novato schools this year. Here are some of the things we’ve been up to:
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About SB 1383
Approximately half of the billion pounds of trash generated by California TK-12 schools and universities is estimated to be organic waste. A state bill called SB 1383 (Organic Waste and Edible Food Recovery Program) has set standards for recovering, diverting and recycling organic waste to reduce the amount of methane, a short-lived climate pollutant emitted when unrecovered organic waste decomposes in our landfills.
The main goals of SB 1383 are:
- Expand the definition of organic waste to include food scraps, landscape and pruning waste;
- Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025; and
- Divert and rescue at least 20% of edible and surplus food currently disposed for people to eat by 2025.
SB 1383 applies to all local education agencies, including TK-12 public and charter schools, school districts,
and County offices of education (not subject to the control of city or county solid waste regulations).
Mandatory implementation and compliance with SB 1383 is effective on January 1, 2024.