Someofthemanygreencampaigns establishedatSaltustodateinclude trash-freelunches,trashpick-ups, “AC-free”monthsfromdecemberto April,tree-planting—andgreengrub daystocelebrateEarthdayeachApril 22.Recyclingbinsforglass,tinand aluminiumhavebeenplacedthroughout bothSaltuscampusesandEco-Clubs haveavidstudentmembersinupper PrimaryandSecondarydepartments. upperPrimary’sEco-Club,ledby S5teacherJanShaw,carriedoutatrash surveytoseewhichareasoftheSchool neededattention.Theydiscoveredtwo problemsissues:wastefromtheuP hot-lunchprogrammeandlunchgarbage intheSecondarydepartment. “Asaresultofthat,startingin September,theupperPrimaryisgoing tohavewashableplatesfortheirhot lunchesfromLaTrattoria,”saysRenaud, whowillbemovingtothatdepartment asdeputyHeadthisfall.“Wefoundthat theplasticdisposableplateshadbecome ahugepartofourtrash,soLaTrattoroia isgoingtoprovidewashableplatesand takethembacktotherestaurantto cleanandreuse.They’relookingat biodegradablecutleryaswell.” InSecondary,studentshavenothad designatedeatingareas,butthatwillalso changeintheWinterTerm2010.“The School’sworkingonprovidingshadein thePiazza,sostudentswillhaveasingle areatositandeatlunch,”saysRenaud. “Itwillmakeiteasiertomonitortrash andhavedesignatedbinareas.” nowtheGreenTeamhopestotake effortstothe“nextlevel”andinstitute apilot‘greenschools’accreditation programmewiththehelpofthe environmentallobbygroupGreenrock. “It’sintheearlystages,butit’sawonderful ideathatcomprisessevenstepstowards achievingaspecial‘green’designation thatwouldallowschoolstoflyagreen S A LT U S M A G A Z I N E BEAUTIFUL BINS—Saltus decorated trash bins in a schools contest organised by Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) and the Ministry of Works. Students painted plastic drums that were placed around the Botanical Gardens, Paget, for Bermuda Annual Exhibition this year. They were later returned to the School for use as recycling bins 1P classmates learn the Three Rs for Earth Day: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle flagoncethey’veearnedthatright.”She hopestheplan,whichfollowstheIrish Green-Schoolseducationprogramme, willsoondebutatSaltus. “Changingattitudesisalifestyleissue andittakestime,”sheadmits.“ButI feelwe’vemadeleapsandboundsalready becausesomanypeopleofallagesare nowmoreawareofhowwecanbetter protectourenvironment.” 9 PHOTOS: CYNTHIA BARNES