“[Students] noticed more litter and the damage it does. They were more concerned about the environment and they felt this was something that they could do something about. They took more control of their own environment and paid more attention to their actions.”
From March to December 2022, students from 20 schools across Durham removed 7,714 pounds of litter from their school campuses and neighboring communities. That’s enough litter to fill approximately 5 school busses!
The Litter Kits in Schools program provides 20 schools with a fully stocked litter kit including:
Litter Grabbers
Safety Vests
Work Gloves
Trash and Recycling Bags
A Litter and Waste Curriculum Guide Aligning with NC Science Standards
Participating schools report back to Keep Durham Beautiful monthly on the cleanups they conduct using the kit.
With a reusable litter cleanup kit housed permanently at participating schools, teachers have the tools and flexibility to teach sustainability lessons on their school campus and the surrounding neighborhoods without the resource-intensive burden of bringing students to a service project and without the financial costs of purchasing a litter kit.
In order to equitably distribute resources, program preference is given to schools with 50% or more of the student population from marginalized communities, 50% or more of the student population with free and reduced lunches, or an average science performance score below the average score for Durham Public Schools.
For more information or to have your school added to the Litter Kits in Schools waitlist, please contact us at info@keepdurhambeautiful.org.
Click here to view a 3-page PDF Summary Report
Special thanks to the NC Beverage Association, the American Beverage Association, and Duke Office of Durham & Community Affairs for awarding grants that made this program possible!