Custodian Spotlight: Zero Waste Superheroes

By Beatrix Berry

In partnership with the Zero Waste Schools Program, SEI helps schools in Marin County, California, reach their zero waste goals. Our schools compost organic materials, recover edible food, and educate students about waste sorting practices. But none of these initiatives would be possible without our zero waste superheroes: the custodians! 

Helping with waste reduction, sorting, and pick up, custodians are the people who make zero waste initiatives possible and move them forward behind the scenes. We are so grateful for their work. Our team is proud to spotlight three custodians who are doing an outstanding, above-and-beyond job supporting students on their waste sorting journey. 

Alex Nadero, custodian at Brookside Elementary School (San Anselmo, CA), is an expert on campus infrastructure and what could be improved. He is beloved by the Brookside students, he know him as "Mr Alex."
​
​“I love to teach the kids how we can maintain a clean planet Earth. I love to throw less plastic in the landfill,” Mr. Alex told the Zero Waste team. At lunch each day, Mr. Alex helps students sort their waste properly, all talking with them and taking notes on how to make sorting more efficient. ​“I love to keep the school property clean," he told us.

Mr.  Alex makes it a point to continually improve his sorting practices: by asking clarifying questions of the Zero Waste Schools team, answering questions about his work at Brookside, and remaining excited to learn more. 
​
With a kind and constant smile, Mr. Alex works closely with students, and the students love working with him. He implemented the use of a liquids bucket and is currently assisting with the roll out of a new composting system at lunch time. These are but a couple examples of the helpful and proactive things that Mr. Alex does without. Thank you, Mr. Alex! ​

​Ernesto Rodriguez, custodian at The Cove School (Corte Madera, CA), is the go-to person on campus when it comes to waste sorting questions. Students across the campus will look to Ernesto for a thumbs up or thumbs down when debating how to sort their waste.

Ernesto is a pleasure to work with. He is kind, supportive, passionate, and well educated about waste sorting. He takes a lot of pride in the work that he does and in teaching students how to sort their waste.

Principal of Cove, Michelle Walker, shared with us that, “Ernesto is instrumental in our zero waste efforts at Cove. In addition to assisting our Green Team every day at lunch, he takes time to teach students how to sort their trash. He spot-checks the bins and makes sure they are filled with the right items." 

​Ernesto is always willing to help out and is a friendly face to seek out if you have any questions about waste sorting. “We are lucky to have a custodian who cares about our school and our earth so much,” Principal Walker concluded. Thank you, Ernesto, for your dedicated work!

Estuardo Cordon, Head Custodian at Bahia Vista Elementary School (San Rafael, CA), has been instrumental in developing waste sorting literacy and practices among K-5 students.

​Estuardo is dedicated to reducing the amount of waste that students at Bahia Vista send to the landfill. “When I come to BV few years ago, I see trash everywhere.  Makes me very sad," Estuardo explained.  "I work with Mr. Littee and Green Team, and Zero Waste Marin.  Kids learn how to sort food, trash, recycle.”  ​

Estuardo created a new zero waste system at Bahia Vista: he places a small bin on the table for plastic waste/landfill at each lunch table. At the end of lunch, one student brings their table’s bin to the trash can. The other students at the table then come up and compost their food waste and recycle what they can. This helps to limit the amount of food waste that is thrown in the trash. "Now I very happy cause school is so much cleaner, school saves money for less trash bags collected, and kids can now sort by themselves,” Estuardo proudly shared. 

Thank you, Estuardo, for being such a positive, and dedicated support system for the students and the school!

To learn more about how Bahia Vista become a Zero Waste school, watch this video.