Our Grassroots History
This is how our organization grew, like grass!
2004
Parents in Estabrook began Lexington's very first lunchtime recycling and composting program.
2006
Two parents at Bridge Elementary School started Eco-Bridge - our town's longest-lasting Green Team ever! Including lunchtime recycling and onsite composting.
2012
Lexington's 3rd Green Team Hastings Go Green started lunchtime recycling.
2008-13
Parents and Green Teams advocated for eliminating styrofoam trays in all schools.
2015
Compostable trays replaced styrofoam trays (400,000 per year).
2016
All nine public schools started compost pickup service by Black Earth Compost.
Whitsons Food Service staff in LPS kitchens began to compost food scrap.
Students at three more elementary schools (Estabrook, Harrington, and Hastings) began to compost food waste, napkins and lunch trays.
2017
School Committee approved new Hastings building to have a dishwashing facility.
Fiske Elementary School students began to compost lunch waste on Fridays.
2018
School Committee approved School Policy Section EDE - WASTE REDUCTION: CONSERVATION, RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING.
Green Team volunteers established Zero Waste Stations at school and community events (including LEF and Discovery Day).
By November, Bowman Elementary, Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools, and Lexington High School have had active Green Teams leading the waste reduction and recycling/composting effort during lunchtime and at events. We have reached 100% participation in all Lexington Public Schools!
2019
Whitsons Food Service phases out petroleum-based plastic straws and utensils.
Plastic bag/film recycling through Trex expands to 8 LPS schools.
Joined forces with Lexington Girl Scout troop in proposing and passing bylaw changes to eliminate/reduce petroleum-based plastic beverage straws and stirrers, and expanded polystyrene food serviceware and packaging.
All nine LPS schools are composting and recycling lunch waste every day, diverting 3.3 tons of organic waste from the incinerator each week.
2020
Began a Food Rescue Program pilot at Diamond Middle School, in partnership with the town Health Dept., Whitsons, and FoodLink.
Partnered with Lexington DPW and Sustainable Lexington to promote International Compost Awareness Week and help distribute free bins to new Black Earth curbside compost pickup Lexington customers.
2021
Part of Clean Heat Lexington in bringing Warrant Article 31 CLEAN HEAT-HOME RULE LEGISLATION/BYLAW AMENDMENT/ FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE in Annual Town Meeting.
2022-23
Together with Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative, LexCAN, and countless residents, we advocated for the town's pilot food waste collection program for 2,000 households, which was approved by Select Board and Town Meeting, started July 1, 2023. (Featured in Lexington Observer.)