Puyallup School District
Green Teams
Ready to make a difference? Create a Green Team at your school and help protect the planet
Start in your school or cafeteria! By creating a food recycling program or water conservation campaign, you’ll help collect and repurpose leftovers to reduce waste, save water resources, support your community, and protect the environment.
Why does food waste matter? Washington generates over 1.2 million tons of food waste each year, much of it still edible. At the same time, nearly 1 in 6 people in our state face food insecurity. When we throw food away, we’re also wasting all the water, energy, and effort that went into producing it. That’s why the state has committed to cutting food waste in half by 2030, and starting January 2026, schools that generate more than four cubic yards of waste per week will be required to take action.
Small steps can lead to big change, and we’re here to help you take the first one.
Resources for your Green Team
Earn Badges with the Green Team Action Kit
Put your passion into action and track your progress online! Use the Green Team Action Kit to earn fun, themed badges as your complete sustainability activities.
Here’s how it works:
- Register your team in Microsoft Forms (You must have a district email to register.)
- Take action—like starting a recycling program, sharing food, or hosting a clean-up
- Upload a photo or short description of what you did
- Earn points and collect badges to show off your sustainability superpowers!
Unlock all 8 badges to earn the ultra-rare Planet Protector Master Badge!
Start small. Dream big. Be green. 💚
Learn more about the badges your team can earn
Smarty Sorter
Help your school waste less! Design signs, help set up bins, sort food scraps, or start composting. Create a system that works for everyone!
Bright Idea Buddy
Discover new ways to save food! Learn how to reuse food scraps, try new recipes, or preserve leftovers in creative ways.
Eco-star Influencer
Make posters, host events, or give mini-presentations to share what you’ve learned about helping the planet.
Food Rescue Ranger
Be the hero that saves snacks! Help collect uneaten food and make sure it gets shared or eaten later.
Garden Chef
Grow your own veggies, learn where your food comes from, and cook up yummy meals that don’t waste a bite!
Data Detective
Track how much energy or food your school saves. Make graphs, charts, or reports to show how your Green Team is making a difference!
Watt Watcher
Be an energy-saving superhero! Turn off lights, unplug devices, and help your class find ways to use less electricity every day.
Aqua Guardian
Be an aqua guardian! Clean water is valuable and every refill counts. Your school’s bottle filling stations help reduce plastic waste and protect our environment.
Planet Protector
Use the Green Team Action Kit to earn fun badges and show off your sustainability superpowers! Earn all 8 badges to unlock the ultra-rare Planet Protector Master Badge!
Did You Know?
The 2019 Washington State Legislature unanimously passed the Food Waste Reduction Act, establishing the food waste reduction goals. Washington generates over 1.2 million tons of food waste annually, with a large portion being edible food going to the landfill.
To meet the statewide goals, as a state we need to:
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Reduce total annual food waste by at least 608,390 tons.
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Reduce edible foo d waste by at least 195,032 tons, including rescuing 78,012 tons for human consumption.