Mesa Public Schools' In-plant Focuses on Sustainability and Productivity

By Dawn Greenlaw-Scully

Other eco-friendly efforts are more easily embraced and implemented.

As part of a district policy, the in-plant has posted "If not in use, please turn off" stickers at every light switch.
The shop has reduced its warehouse inventory significantly.
The staff repurposes as much material as possible. They use the paper from butt rolls for packing material, make pads out of waste from parent sheets, and turn carton tops and bottoms into pallet covers.

"It's not a formal campaign, it's just second nature to us," King comments. Similarly, he adds, "we never had a mandate to monitor fuel consumption, but we're good stewards in that respect," he continues. "Mesa is so big now and some of our schools are 20 miles away, so we group deliveries according to location."