The King County Green Schools Program is honoring 70 schools for their conservation achievements, including several in the Snoqualmie Valley.

North Bend and Snoqualmie Elementary Schools and Two Rivers School in the Snoqualmie Valley School District and Carnation Elementary School in the Riverview School District were among the 36 schools to be named Sustaining Green Schools at level four.

Level four designation requires efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling (level one), energy conservation practices (level two), water conservation and pollution prevention practices (level three) and additional conservation or education strategies.

The program involves students and school employees in learning about and practicing resource conservation. Alekel said that participating schools and school districts have reported saving money through reduced garbage volumes and decreased energy and water use.

“Green Schools Program participants are helping King County achieve its goal of reaching a 70 percent recycling rate by 2020, while the students and employees at these schools learn simple and effective resource conservation actions that will benefit our environment,” said Pat McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.

A total of 70 schools were honored in the Green Schools program, 36 at level four, 10 at level three, 11 at level two and 13 at level one.

“These 70 schools have initiated or improved sustainable practices and are teaching their students and employees about conservation,” said Dale Alekel, Green Schools Program manager.

Schools from 33 cities and 15 school districts in King County are engaging students, teachers, and other staff in reducing waste and recycling, and conserving water and energy, with help from the King County Green Schools Program.

The program has served a growing number of schools each year, from 100 schools in 2009-10 to 236 schools (47 percent of the K-12 schools in King County outside the City of Seattle) in 2015-16. The program also assists school districts, with 12 districts currently participating.

Learn about the Green Schools Program by contacting Alekel at (206) 477-5267 or dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.