1707 Russell Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Stephen Collins, Maintenance Manager
stevecollins@berkeley.net
Sofia Peltz, Sustainability Program Coordinator
sustainability@berkeley.net
Current Projects
Zero Waste Week
Help the District achieve our zero waste goals! Preparations are underway for a District-wide Zero Waste Week. Join us in learning about the impact of our waste and how you can be part of the solution this November 1st – 5th. Learn how you can participate and check out your school’s diversion rate here!
Reusable Foodware Pilot Project
Berkeley Unified School District is committed to becoming a zero-waste District through a goal of 80% diversion by 2025. In order to achieve this goal, the District will need to transition away from single-use items and replace them with reusables. The District is collaborating with ReThink Disposables to explore how to pilot the use of reusable foodware at three school sites including John Muir, Cragmont, and King Middle School.
Outdoor Learning Environments
The District is collaborating with community partners to explore how to use outdoor spaces to improve the well-being of our students and staff and encourage their connections to natural spaces. Check out our progress here.
Earth Day is Everyday Resources
Promote a culture of sustainability by completing these Earth Day is Every Day lessons and activities!
Our Vision
The vision of the Sustainability Master Plan is that all Berkeley students have access to healthy, green school buildings and grounds and hands-on environmental and outdoor education.
Department Overview
The Sustainability Program serves as a leader for sustainability initiatives across the District. Since 2018, when the District adopted a Sustainability Plan, we have undertaken a wide range of initiatives to improve the sustainability of our school campuses. We are working to eliminate the District’s carbon emissions, increase water resiliency, build healthy communities, and increase nature-based education for all students. Stakeholder and community engagement is an important part of this process. We have hosted and will continue to offer various opportunities for community engagement. To stay informed on District-wide sustainability efforts, accomplishments, and volunteer opportunities please become a member of the BUSD Sustainability Google Forum and check out our monthly newsletter.
Student Action
Would you like to be a sustainability champion at your school campus? Here are a few tips!
- Join a green team or environmental club
- Bring a reusable water bottle to school every day
- Start an idle free campaign to encourage sustainable transportation
- Bring a set of reusable utensils to school
- Encourage your peers to sort waste properly
- Learn how to reduce your waste in Berkeley, CA
Speaker Series
We invite you to come and be inspired by these forward-thinking speakers who are addressing complex problems across a variety of sustainability-related fields. Those who choose to attend the live sessions will have an opportunity to present questions during the Q/A sessions!
Our Partners
- SEI
- Altamont Advisory Board
- Safe Routes to School
- ReThink Disposables
- The Center for Environmental Health
- City of Berkeley
- StopWaste
- Green Schoolyards America
- Teacher Leaders
- Custodial
- Facilities and Maintenance
- Nutrition Services
- Gardening and Cooking Program
News and Media
Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with student opportunities @busdsustainability
Get involved in our efforts!
You can contact your school’s Green Team or send an email to “Striving for Zero Waste” and Sustainability Coordinator Sofia Peltz: sustainability@berkeley.net.
We hope that you support BUSD’s commitment to healthy, green school buildings and grounds and hands-on environmental and outdoor education.