Are you interested in spending a day on the Kentucky River and improving our local environment? You can do both by volunteering for the annual Kentucky River Clean Sweep on Saturday, June 21. Learn more.
Tired of Tenants Leaving Furniture on the Street after Move-Out?
Bluegrass Greensource and its partners are sponsoring Move-Out Madness once again this year at two Lexington apartment complexes, with the goal of keeping gently-used furniture, household items, and more out of the landfill. Find out what locations are hosting Move-Out Madness this year!
Greensource Seeks Web Development Intern
We are seeking an intern to work closely with our Outreach Specialists to develop and implement a corollary website for our organization. Click here to view the intern job description.
Water Week Makes a Splash with Local Professionals
The first week of June was Water Week for LiveGreenLexington Partners and LiveGreenLexington Games participants, and it went swimmingly! Representatives of Lexington businesses participated in a variety of events aimed at raising awareness of water quality and conservation issues. Continue reading…
Greensource to Offer Rain Garden Workshop at Annual Whippoorwill Festival
Greensource will be hosting a series of rain garden workshops this year in Madison, Clark, and Woodford Counties. The first event will be held on July 11 and 12 at the Whippoorwill Festival. Eligible workshop participants may apply for a grant to purchase plants for their own rain garden! Click here for more information.
Check out our Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming green events in your community! Submit your organization’s green event here.
Take Your Family Out to the Ballgame and Support Bluegrass Greensource
Bluegrass Greensource will be featured as Lexington Legends’ Community Organization of the Night on Friday, May 23rd. Call or stop by our office to pick up your tickets for the game for just $8 each ($2 off face value), and show your support for environmental education in Central Kentucky!
Over 60 Lexington Schools Recognized for Sustainability Efforts
Bluegrass Greensource joined forces with the Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council, LFUCG, Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools, and the National Energy Education Development project (NEED) to award Fayette County Schools for their efforts in recycling, water quality improvement, and energy conservation. Continue reading…
Save the Date: Roll Out the Rain Barrels Reception
Grab your goggles, LiveGreenLexington Partners, because we’re diving into Water Week! Water Week activities will provide opportunities to learn more about reducing your business’ impact on water quality, and to earn extra credit toward the LiveGreenLexington Games! Learn more about Water Week.
Spaces still available for Bourbon County Rain Barrel Workshops
We still have a few spaces available for our rain barrel workshops this weekend at the Bourbon County YMCA! Join us on Saturday, May 17th at 9:00 AMor 11:00 AMto make your own rain barrel for just $10. Workshops are sponsored by Kentucky American Water.
Over 400 Volunteers Participate in First Annual Main Street Clean Sweep
On April 22nd, city employees, small business owners, and concerned citizens from seven communities across the Bluegrass region came together to clean up nearly 300 bags of trash and recyclables from their main street corridors! Find out who participated in your community.
2014 Downtown Trash Bash a Success
Over 100 volunteers from downtown Lexington neighborhoods and businesses joined us for the Downtown Trash Bash on April 18th.Continue reading…
Have you visited our website lately? Check out our new Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming green events in your community! Submit your organization’s green event for inclusion here.
Help Keep Lexington Clean and Green at the Downtown Trash Bash
Come on out to the Downtown Trash Bash on Friday, April 18th and make our downtown more beautiful while helping to protect water quality in the Town Branch watershed! Individuals and businesses are invited to join us any time between Noon and 4 p.m. at one of five starting locations, where we will provide the tools you need to help remove litter from our cityscape. Continue reading…
Volunteers Needed for First Annual Main Street Clean Sweep
Bluegrass Greensource needs your help this Earth Day for our first annual Main Street Clean Sweep. On April 22nd, employees from seven downtown communities throughout the Bluegrass region will work during their lunch break to pick up litter and keep their Main Street clean. Learn more…
Upcoming Festivals Will Celebrate Clean Water in Central Kentucky
The birds are chirping, the trees are in bloom, the weather is warming up – spring has sprung and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the Earth! Bluegrass Greensource is working with a variety of local partners to host three watershed festivals this spring in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties. Find more details here.
Beth Oleson Joins Our Team
Greensource welcomes Beth Oleson, our new Outreach Specialist, to the team! Beth will be working with Fayette County businesses through the LiveGreenLexington Partner Program. She began her own environmental education as a toddler, flipping over rocks in her Lexington back yard to check out the bugs living underneath. Learn more about Beth.
Go Green, Save Green Workshop A Success
The fifth annual Go Green, Save Green workshop brought together over 105 members of Lexington’s business community. The workshop, sponsored by LFUCG and organized by Bluegrass Greensource, aims to provide various types of Lexington businesses with information from experts in waste reduction, water, and energy efficiency. Continue reading…
Check out our new Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming green events in your community! Submit your organization’s green event for inclusion here.
The 5th annual Go Green, Save Green Workshop, sponsored by LFUCG, is scheduled for March 20, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the BCTC Newtown Campus (500 Newtown Pike). This one-day workshop will educate businesses of all types and sizes on practices that are both environmentally friendly and money-saving.
This workshop is a fantastic opportunity to network with sustainability professionals and learn more about the steps that businesses can take to save energy, improve water quality, and reduce waste, all while reducing your costs!
Whether you’re just getting started implementing eco-friendly practices at your business or you’re a seasoned sustainability professional, there are sessions to fit your needs. This year’s workshop offers specialized tracks for various types of businesses including industrial-sized businesses, bars and restaurants, apartment complexes, and religious institutions.
This year, we have partnered with the Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council to expand our offerings, including a session that will provide continuing education credit for LEED professionals. Sessions on energy efficient thermal comfort, grants for developing brownfields, water incentive grants, low impact development, and net-zero building will offer much to consider for businesses looking to ‘go green.’
Homeowners as well as businesses will benefit from learning about current recycling efforts in Lexington, the ins and outs of composting, and water quality issues. There will also be a presentation from the builder of Kentucky’s first net-zero energy home.
The cost to attend is $25 (general attendee), $15 (student attendee), or $50 (vendor). On-site general registration on the day of the event will cost $40. The registration fee covers admission to all sessions, a zero-waste breakfast and catered lunch, a tour of the LEED Certified BCTC Newtown Campus, chances to win door prizes (including a Haiku Fan from Big Ass Fans), and a drink ticket for happy hour. Happy Hour and networking will take place at Blue Stallion Brewing Company after the sessions. Parking is free and conveniently accessible.
To register, please visit ggsg.eventbrite.com by March 18th. Registration after that date cannot be guaranteed to include lunch.
Support Bluegrass Greensource on KY Gives Day on April 9th
Bluegrass Greensource is participating in Kentucky Gives Day, scheduled for April 9, 2014, and we need your help! With just a few clicks, you can help us continue our work in protecting our local environment.
Kentucky Gives Day, organized by Kentucky Nonprofit Network, is a 24-hour online fundraising event bringing charities and Kentuckians together for a powerful day of action by encouraging people to donate to their favorite charities.
Greensource’s goal is to raise as much money as possible in those 24 hours! The funds we raise will help us expand our environmental education efforts in area schools, enhance our environmental outreach in Central Kentucky communities, and further our mission to help people make small changes in their daily lives that have a big impact in our environment.
“Bluegrass Greensource makes a difference every day through our environmental education and outreach programs in local schools and communities,” said Amy Sohner, Executive Director of Bluegrass Greensource. “By encouraging people, no matter what their age, to make small changes, they can not only save the environment but also save a lot of money.”
One of our many success stories includes helping a school district save over $50,000 annually on its waste hauling costs. The school district has been so inspired that they have set a new goal to reduce their energy consumption by 20% by 2017. To put this in perspective, if they were 20% more efficient in 2013, this school district would have avoided paying $1.6 million in utility bills. This money could have gone toward providing salaries for more than 30 faculty or staff, purchasing over 1600 new computers, or building 7 new elementary school classrooms.
Beginning at midnight EDT on April 9th and continuing until 11:59pm EDT, you can visit our online donation page at http://kygives.razoo.com/story/Bggreensource and make your tax-deductible donation. All online donations made to Bluegrass Greensource on KY Gives Day will go directly to support our mission.
You CAN make a difference. Help the environment on April 9th!
If you have any questions, please contact Chris Clabes at chrisc@bggreensource.org or (859) 230-2325.
First Annual Earth Day Main St. Clean Sweep to be Held April 22nd
Bluegrass Greensource needs your help this Earth Day for our first annual Main St. Clean Sweep! What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by getting out in your community and picking up litter? Litter thrown on the streets ends up in storm drains and trashes our environment. Storm drains often flow directly into streams, lakes, and rivers. When water becomes polluted, it is no longer safe for drinking or recreation, and this litter harms fish and other wildlife. Many of the items that are thrown from car windows or dropped on the sidewalk are not biodegradable, which means that their chemical decomposition takes a very long time and that these items will create long-term damage to environment (this is the case with cigarette butts).
You may have heard all kinds of things about how litter harms the environment, but did you know that litter also hurts local economies? Houses in littered neighborhoods sell for less money than those in unlittered neighborhoods. Also, cleaner communities have a better chance of attracting new businesses, residents, and tourists. Much of what is thrown away or littered (like cans and plastic bottles) could have been recycled and is thus a lost resource. So, let’s pick up some litter and help clean up the Bluegrass this Earth Day!
We are asking employees from businesses in Downtown/Main Street areas throughout the Bluegrass region to get outside during their lunch break on April 22nd anytime between 11:30 am and 2:00pm and pick up some litter (rain or shine). Bluegrass Greensource is planning cleanups in Frankfort, Lancaster, Harrodsburg, Winchester, Stanford, Irvine, and Danville. We will provide trash bags, gloves, and FREE T-SHIRTS at all locations! Stay tuned for kick-off locations and more details in the coming month!
Even if you aren’t able to get out on Earth Day and help with one of the litter cleanups, you can still make a difference by picking up litter anytime, anywhere. With your help we can make every day Earth Day!
If you are interested in being involved in one of the Earth Day Main St. Clean Sweep events, please contact Ashley at 859-266-1572 or vista@bggreensource.org.
Making Green Work at Franklin County Operation Preparation
On March 10th and 11th, the Bluegrass Greensource Green Jobs Program was at Kentucky State University for Franklin County Operation Preparation. Operation Preparation is a joint effort of the Kentucky Department of Education and the Department of Workforce Development and provides a powerful opportunity for schools, students, parents and communities to collaborate and focus attention to the importance of planning for college and/or career (education.ky.gov). This program is the perfect opportunity for students to learn about green career opportunities in their community.
Green Jobs Coordinator Ashley Bryant Cheney participated in the advising sessions for interested 8th graders and offered the first ever Green Jobs Information Session for all 10th grade students from Western Hills High School and Franklin County High School. Through these programs, Bluegrass Greensource provided green jobs information to over 400 students. Kenvirons and the Division of Forestry partnered with Bluegrass Greensource for the information session. Aaron Morgan (Kenvirons), Chris Jones (Kenvirons), and Ben Lyle (Division of Forestry) all talked about their green jobs and used real-life examples to engage students. It was clear, through the presentations and the questions that students asked, this session opened students’ eyes to green career options.
Franklin County Operation Preparation was a huge success! Bluegrass Greensource would like to thank Aaron Morgan and Chris Jones of Kenvirons and Ben Lyle from the Division of Forestry for talking to the 10th grade students about their green jobs. Bluegrass Greensource would also like to thank the Franklin County schools for featuring the Green Jobs Program as one of their workshop sessions.
If you are interested in learning more about the Green Jobs Program, please contact Ashley at 859-266-1572 or vista@bggreensource.org.
Bluegrass Greensource Staff Tour Rumpke Facility
A group from Bluegrass Greensource had the pleasure of touring the Rumpke Material Recovery Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 19th. Each day Rumpke takes in tons of unsorted recycling and uses some very skilled people and amazing technology to sort everything that makes its way into the facility. When Rumpke’s old recycling facility burned to the ground in 2012, they committed to building a bigger, better, more efficient facility. This new facility includes six optical scanners, two electromagnetic eddy currents, hundreds of spinning discs as well as nearly 100 employees to sort 500 tons of material daily. Rumpke isn’t stopping there; they hope to have the facility running 24/7 and bring the facility up to maximum sorting capacity.
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Thank you for signing up to receive our newsletter. If you have any questions or comments about this issue, please contact us at info@bggreensource.org.
Sincerely,
Amy Sohner Executive Director
Bluegrass Greensource
A group from Bluegrass Greensource had the pleasure of touring the Rumpke Material Recovery Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 19th. Each day Rumpke takes in tons of unsorted recycling and uses some very skilled people and amazing technology to sort everything that makes its way into the facility. When Rumpke’s old recycling facility burned to the ground in 2012, they committed to building a bigger, better, more efficient facility. This new facility includes six optical scanners, two electromagnetic eddy currents, hundreds of spinning discs as well as nearly 100 employees to sort 500 tons of material daily. Rumpke isn’t stopping there; they hope to have the facility running 24/7 and bring the facility up to maximum sorting capacity.
Rumpke Tour Guide gives Deputy Director Maxine Rudder, Development and PR Coordinator Chris Clabes, and Board Member Babette Overman an overview of the sorting process from the observation deck.
Tour guide explains how the many spinning discs separate out the plastic bottles while the cardboard slides across the top of the discs.
This Optical Scanner separates out cartons and plastic bottles from the other recyclables.
Bluegrass Greensource needs your help this Earth Day for our first annual Main St. Clean Sweep! What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by getting out in your community and picking up litter? Litter thrown on the streets ends up in storm drains and trashes our environment. Storm drains often flow directly into streams, lakes, and rivers. When water becomes polluted, it is no longer safe for drinking or recreation, and this litter harms fish and other wildlife. Many of the items that are thrown from car windows or dropped on the sidewalk are not biodegradable, which means that their chemical decomposition takes a very long time and that these items will create long-term damage to environment (this is the case with cigarette butts).
You may have heard all kinds of things about how litter harms the environment, but did you know that litter also hurts local economies? Houses in littered neighborhoods sell for less money than those in unlittered neighborhoods. Also, cleaner communities have a better chance of attracting new businesses, residents, and tourists. Much of what is thrown away or littered (like cans and plastic bottles) could have been recycled and is thus a lost resource. So, let’s pick up some litter and help clean up the Bluegrass this Earth Day!
We are asking employees from businesses in Downtown/Main Street areas throughout the Bluegrass region to get outside during their lunch break on April 22nd anytime between 11:30 am and 2:00pm and pick up some litter (rain or shine). Bluegrass Greensource is planning cleanups in Frankfort, Lancaster, Harrodsburg, Winchester, Stanford, Irvine, and Danville. We will provide trash bags, gloves, and FREE T-SHIRTS at all locations! Stay tuned for kick-off locations and more details in the coming month!
Even if you aren’t able to get out on Earth Day and help with one of the litter cleanups, you can still make a difference by picking up litter anytime, anywhere. With your help we can make every day Earth Day!
If you are interested in being involved in one of the Earth Day Main St. Clean Sweep events, please contact Ashley at 859-266-1572 or vista@bggreensource.org.
Bluegrass Greensource is participating in Kentucky Gives Day, scheduled for April 9, 2014, and we need your help! With just a few clicks, you make a donation that can help protect our local environment.
Kentucky Gives Day, organized by Kentucky Nonprofit Network, is a 24-hour online fundraising event bringing charities and Kentuckians together for a powerful day of action by encouraging people to donate to their favorite charities.
Greensource’s goal is to raise as much money as possible in those 24 hours! The funds we raise will help us expand our environmental education efforts in area schools, enhance our environmental outreach in Central Kentucky communities, and further our mission to help people make small changes in their daily lives that have a big impact in our environment.
“Bluegrass Greensource makes a difference every day through our environmental education and outreach programs in local schools and communities,” said Amy Sohner, Executive Director of Bluegrass Greensource. “By encouraging people, no matter what their age, to make small changes, they can not only save the environment but also save a lot of money.”
One of our many success stories includes helping a school district save over $50,000 annually on its waste hauling costs. The school district has been so inspired that they have set a new goal to reduce their energy consumption by 20% by 2017. To put this in perspective, if they were 20% more efficient in 2013, this school district would have avoided paying $1.6 million in utility bills. This money could have gone toward providing salaries for more than 30 faculty or staff, purchasing over 1600 new computers, or building 7 new elementary school classrooms.
Beginning at midnight EDT on April 9th and continuing until 11:59pm EDT, you can visit our online donation page at http://kygives.razoo.com/story/Bggreensource and make your tax-deductible donation. All online donations made to Bluegrass Greensource on KY Gives Day will go directly to support our mission.
You CAN make a difference. Help the environment on April 9th!
If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sohner at amy@bggreensource.org or (859) 230-2325.
The 5th annual Go Green, Save Green Workshop, sponsored by LFUCG, is scheduled for March 20, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the BCTC Newtown Campus (500 Newtown Pike). This one-day workshop will educate businesses of all types and sizes on practices that are both environmentally friendly and money-saving.
This workshop is a fantastic opportunity to network with sustainability professionals and learn more about the steps that businesses can take to save energy, improve water quality, and reduce waste, all while reducing your costs!
Whether you’re just getting started implementing eco-friendly practices at your business or you’re a seasoned sustainability professional, there are sessions to fit your needs. This year’s workshop offers specialized tracks for various types of businesses including industrial-sized businesses, bars and restaurants, apartment complexes, and religious institutions.
This year, we have partnered with the Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council to expand our offerings, including a session that will provide continuing education credit for LEED professionals. Sessions on energy efficient thermal comfort, grants for developing brownfields, water incentive grants, low impact development, and net-zero building will offer much to consider for businesses looking to ‘go green.’
Homeowners as well as businesses will benefit from learning about current recycling efforts in Lexington, the ins and outs of composting, and water quality issues. There will also be a presentation from the builder of Kentucky’s first net-zero energy home.
The cost to attend is $25 (general attendee), $15 (student attendee), or $50 (vendor). On-site general registration on the day of the event will cost $40. The registration fee covers admission to all sessions, a zero-waste breakfast and catered lunch, a tour of the LEED Certified BCTC Newtown Campus, chances to win door prizes (including a Haiku Fan from Big Ass Fans), and a drink ticket for happy hour. Happy Hour and networking will take place at Blue Stallion Brewing Company after the sessions. Parking is free and conveniently accessible.
To register, please visit ggsg.eventbrite.com by March 18th. Registration after that date cannot be guaranteed to include lunch.
On March 10th and 11th, the Bluegrass Greensource Green Jobs Program was at Kentucky State University for Franklin County Operation Preparation. Operation Preparation is a joint effort of the Kentucky Department of Education and the Department of Workforce Development and provides a powerful opportunity for schools, students, parents and communities to collaborate and focus attention to the importance of planning for college and/or career (education.ky.gov). This program is the perfect opportunity for students to learn about green career opportunities in their community.
Ben Lyle from the Division of Forestry answers questions about being a forester as part of the Bluegrass Greensource Green Jobs Information Session
Green Jobs Coordinator Ashley Bryant Cheney participated in the advising sessions for interested 8th graders and offered the first ever Green Jobs Information Session for all 10th grade students from Western Hills High School and Franklin County High School. Through these programs, Bluegrass Greensource provided green jobs information to over 400 students. Kenvirons and the Division of Forestry partnered with Bluegrass Greensource for the information session. Aaron Morgan (Kenvirons), Chris Jones (Kenvirons), and Ben Lyle (Division of Forestry) all talked about their green jobs and used real-life examples to engage students. It was clear, through the presentations and the questions that students asked, this session opened students’ eyes to green career options.
Franklin County Operation Preparation was a huge success! Bluegrass Greensource would like to thank Aaron Morgan and Chris Jones of Kenvirons and Ben Lyle from the Division of Forestry for talking to the 10th grade students about their green jobs. Bluegrass Greensource would also like to thank the Franklin County schools for featuring the Green Jobs Program as one of their workshop sessions.
If you are interested in learning more about the Green Jobs Program, please contact Ashley at 859-266-1572 or vista@bggreensource.org.
Let’s show some love for our planet and make this Valentine’s Day green! We’ve got some ideas that will keep the romance alive and the energy waste minimal. From buying that box of chocolates to planning the day, here are some tips for every couple.
To save the planet and money, plan a romantic energy saving evening at home. Turn down the thermostat and snuggle up to your loved one under a blanket for a romantic film or a quiet evening in front of the fireplace. Leave the car in the driveway and have dinner at home too. When planning dinner, consider incorporating local produce and/or local products. Your bottle of red or white may taste of fruit, chocolate, oak – but can you detect the hint of a healthier planet?Try an organic or local wine.
Set the mood, and lose the electronics for a night. Take some time to connect with each other. Unplug all unnecessary appliances. Turn off your cell and the computers and turn down the lights. Soy or beeswax candles can create a romantic energy-saving ambiance. Whether it be dinner by candlelight or drinks at sunset, soft lighting affects our emotions. Studies suggest that soft lighting evokes a calm feeling throughout our body and can also send the message of beauty, tranquility, and romance.
When you are getting ready for your night in, go ahead and get all dolled up with some eco-friendly products. Blow dryers use a lot of electricity, so consider letting your locks go au naturale.
Many gifts have unique and valuable stories that can add to your relationship and help the world around you. Many companies are now making gifts from recycled materials. Instead of those cliche roses, try getting your significant other a seasonal arrangement of local blooms or a beautiful native potted plant.
Whether your love stands tall or is just beginning to bud, planting a tree is a great way to honor it and a meaningful gift that will last. The tree’s life is like the life of your love, and we don’t mean that in a cheesy way. Trees also help reduce stormwater pollution while keeping your neighborhood looking great.
If your relationship is not quite ready for a tree, go for some organic fair trade chocolates or a homemade card.
We hope you will try some of these tips this Valentine’s Day! Remember, true love goes green! For more ideas on greening your Valentine’s Day, check out the Sierra’s Club Valentine’s Day page.
Image courtesy of Snohomish Health District
Septic System Woes?
Did you know that a failing septic system can require expensive repairs, pose a serious health risk to your family and neighbors, and have negative impacts on water quality? Bluegrass Greensource awarded five Garrard County homeowners cost-share grants to repair or install septic systems at their homes. Each grant will pay 80% of the repair or installation cost, while the homeowner is responsible for the remaining 20%.
To be eligible for the grants, homeowners must reside within the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, or Lincoln Counties and must attend a one-hour workshop about septic system care and maintenance. Following the workshop, participants can apply for a cost-share grant for system repairs or installation, or for a free septic tank pump out (a regular maintenance task that is recommended every 3 to 5 years).
The next free septic system workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 4th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Junction City Community Center (724 W. Shelby Street). Please contact Sandy Bottoms at sandy@bggreensource.org or (859) 266-1572 to register!
Bluegrass Greensource will offer a series of free septic workshops over the next two years, as well as a series of watershed awareness festivals in local communities and water-related activities in area K-12 classrooms. These activities are part of a grant program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Kentucky Division of Water.
Robots, Raptors and Race Cars, Oh My!
What do robots, raptors, and race cars have in common? These were just a few of the hands-on activities available to students at the 30th annual 16th District Science Fair. While the 690 participating students were waiting for the judging and the awarding portions of the fair, they were treated to amazing activities and educational information from over 30 community exhibitors at Science Sensation.
All of the exhibitors contributed exceptional learning opportunities to the Science Fair. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority gave students the opportunity to handle brain samples, a fetal pig, and horse eyeballs. Newton’s Attic kept the students occupied with a robot that students controlled to shoot a basketball through a hoop. Buckley Hills Audubon Society drew a large crowd with their bald eagle and owl exhibit. Rosie the Recycling Bin and Louie the Lightning Bug greeted students reminding them to recycle and conserve energy.
Showing practical applications of science, Bluegrass Greensource helped the Science Fair become more environmentally friendly by incorporating recycling into the event. This year’s fair featured dual stream containers to collect waste. Each container was labeled with items at the fair that are recyclable and over 25 pound of recyclable waste was recovered!
Bluegrass Greensource would like to thank Kentucky American Water, Bryan Station High School, the 150 volunteers, the exhibitors, the students and their families that made this day possible.
The 16th District Science Fair is a collaboration between Fayette County Public Schools and Kentucky American Water. Bluegrass Greensource is contracted through KAW to organize the Science Sensation portion of the science fair.
Boyle, Clark and Madison Counties Become WasteBusters!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Walmart Foundation, Bluegrass Greensource will be able to expand our successful WasteBuster Program to schools in Boyle, Clark and Madison Counties. The goal of this program will be to increase school wide recycling, improve learning and save the school systems money.
The WasteBuster Program is an expansion of a program we successfully completed in Anderson, Garrard, Lincoln and Jessamine counties, and mirrors the award winning LiveGreenLexington Partner Schools Program in Fayette County. In each of these counties, school districts have shown increased recycling rates, reduction in their landfill bound waste, and improved student test scores. Fayette County has also shown a significant cost savings because of their participation.
Bluegrass Greensource educators will work with principals, custodians, cafeteria mangers and teachers to provide recycling bins, conduct waste audits, and work with students in the classroom. Greensource educators will facilitate hands on classroom activities to educate students about recyclable items and waste reduction practices they can implement at their schools. All participating schools in Boyle, Clark and Madison also have the opportunity to apply for a waste reduction grant to implement specific initiatives in their school.
Bluegrass Greensource is excited about the opportunity to work with schools, staff and students in these three counties! If you are a teacher in Boyle, Clark or Madison County and would like to participate, please contact Blair@bgGreensource.org.
Over 100 pledged to Get Outdoors in 2014 through our annual New Year’s Resolution Program, and Bluegrass Greensource would like to congratulate Joshua Saxton for winning the $100 gift card from Kentucky State Parks!
We would like to thank the following people who agreed to publically commit to Get Outdoors in 2014 — Stephanie Vihlidal, Kenna Phelps, Laurie Davison, Lauren Monahan, Shanda Cecil, Christina Zavos, Melinda W., Ashley Osborne, Roberta Burnes, Alyse Garrard, Kenya Stump, Burley Thomas, Lori Minter, Eric Comley, Robin Stewart, Jamison Barton, Tracy C, Suzanna Weisenfeld, Beth Kelly, Nicholas Larkey, Jeri Howell, Hannelore Elliot, Tanya Ewing, Gayle Bourne, Linda Johnson, Mark Tower, Trudy Robards, Leann Brown, Chris Tyler, Charlie Lanter, Joyce Fister-Daley, Rachel Ford, Sabrina Oaks, Karen Hatter, Melody, Jaci Williams, KathrynTurbek, Amy Sohner, Gene Slusher, Storey Slone, Chris Woolery, Eamonn FritzGerald, Amanda Black, Jennifer Mitchell, Bill Settles, Joey Svec, Joshua Saxton,Ashley, Mike Reed, Anita Courtney, Paula Dunn, Dawna Scripps, Cheryl Pena, and Jan McKinney.
Thank you for signing up to receive our newsletter. If you have any questions or comments about this issue, please contact us at info@bggreensource.org.
Sincerely, Amy Sohner Executive Director
Bluegrass Greensource
