Proper chemical management means following all city, state, and federal regulations for the safe disposal of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste. Chemical waste can originate from various sources in schools, including science labs, art rooms, cleaning products, expired materials, paints, flammable liquids, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, among others. Beyond compliance, schools should aim to exceed regulatory requirements by using fewer chemicals, adopting green chemistry practices, and designating a Chemical Hygiene Officer to oversee safety protocols and waste reduction.
Why this is important:
Not only could improper disposal of certain substances cause irreparable environmental damage, but it could also jeopardize the safety of your school community and the public in general by contaminating the food, air or water supply.
Strategies for Effective Chemical Management
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Conduct a Chemical Inventory
Create an up-to-date inventory of all chemicals stored and used on campus, including science labs, custodial closets, and maintenance areas.
Regularly review the inventory to identify unnecessary or expired chemicals for proper disposal.
Develop a Chemical Management Policy
Establish clear guidelines for purchasing, storing, and disposing of chemicals.
Include procedures for emergency response in case of spills or accidents.
Provide Staff Training
Train all relevant staff, including teachers and custodians, on proper chemical handling and disposal methods.
Ensure staff are familiar with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all chemicals used.
Ensure Proper Storage
Store chemicals in labeled, secure, and ventilated areas that meet regulatory requirements.
Separate incompatible substances to prevent reactions and maintain safety.
Implement a Disposal Plan
Partner with certified waste disposal services to safely dispose of hazardous and universal waste.
Follow local, state, and federal guidelines for disposal to ensure compliance.
Minimize Chemical Use
Opt for non-toxic or less hazardous alternatives wherever possible, such as green cleaning products.
Use digital experiments or simulations in science labs to reduce the need for chemical use.
Monitor Compliance
Conduct regular inspections to ensure all chemical management practices align with regulations.
Keep detailed records of chemical purchases, usage, and disposal for auditing purposes.
Engage the School Community
Educate students and staff on the importance of chemical safety and their role in maintaining it.
Involve students in chemical waste reduction initiatives as part of sustainability education.
Collaborate with Experts
Partner with environmental health organizations or local government agencies for guidance on chemical management.
Invite experts to conduct audits or provide recommendations for improvement.
Plan for Emergencies
Develop and regularly update an emergency response plan for chemical spills or exposures.
Conduct drills to ensure staff are prepared to handle chemical emergencies effectively.
‘How To’ Guides
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Garden to Cafeteria Toolkit
From SlowFoods USA, this toolkit provides the important steps to develop GTC protocols that emphasize food safety and training protocols.
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Farm to School Planning Toolkit
From the USDA, a toolkit to help you design and implement a farm-to-school program, including important considerations and additional resources.
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Native Farm-to-School Guide
From the First Nations Development Institute, a guide to integrating Native American elements into your farm-to-school program, championing traditional knowledge, community, language, and ancestral connections to land & food.
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How to Educate Students about Nutrition
From the Educated Choices Program, resources and an interactive, evidence-based approach to teaching children about nutrition.
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A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools
From the USDA, tips on how to meet smart snacks standards, why they are important, and an online e Smart Snacks Product Calculator.
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Micronutrients: How to Encourage Healthier Eating through Color
From the Educated Choices Program, free video presentations, lesson plans, quizzes and additional resources on how to encourage healthier eating by adding more color to students’ plates.
Additional Resources
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Benefits of Farm-to-School
An overview of the vast benefits of farm-to-school programs, from improving local economies and public health to supporting the environment and communities.
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Meatless Mondays Best Practices Guide
A guide for food service operators interested in starting a Meatless Monday program or improving an existing program, including implementation steps, menu ideas and case studies.
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My Plate - Nutrition Resources (USA)
Resources for teaching students about nutrition and health. Resources include games and apps, tip sheets, creating your own MyPlate, worksheets, and more.
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Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Handbook
From the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement is this handbook, which provides schools with the knowledge, motivation, and support needed to build lunchroom environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice for all students.
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School Health Guidelines from the CDC (USA)
From the CDC are the School Health Guidelines. There are 9 School Health Guidelines that serve as the foundation for developing, implementing, and evaluating school-based healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices for students.
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Ideas for Healthier School Fundraisers
From the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Sweet Deals: School Fundraisers can be Healthy and Profitable includes ideas for fundraisers that are better for student health.
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Kids Healthy Eating Plate Guide (Elementary)
From Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate is a visual guide to help educate and encourage children to eat well and keep moving.
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Interdisciplinary Curriculum (Elementary)
Eat Well & Keep Moving is a school-based program that equips children with the knowledge, skills, and supportive environment they need in order to lead healthier lives by choosing nutritious diets and being physically active.
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Educated Choices Program: Health Lesson (High School)
The Educated Choices Program is a nonprofit that provides science-based education on the impact of food choices, empowering individuals worldwide to promote a healthier, more sustainable food system.
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Benefits of Farm-to-School
An overview of the vast benefits of farm-to-school programs, from improving local economies and public health to supporting the environment and communities.
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Meatless Mondays Best Practices Guide
A guide for food service operators interested in starting a Meatless Monday program or improving an existing program, including implementation steps, menu ideas and case studies.
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My Plate - Nutrition Resources (USA)
Resources for teaching students about nutrition and health. Resources include games and apps, tip sheets, creating your own MyPlate, worksheets, and more.
Organizations
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KidsGardening
KidsGardening's mission is to create opportunities for kids to play, learn, and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder.
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FoodCorps (USA)
FoodCorps partners with schools and communities to nourish kids’ health, education, and sense of belonging.
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Green Schools Alliance GSA Team Green Schools Alliance ▾ Alliance for a Healthier Generation (USA)
About Healthier Generation:
"Help your school support the physical, social-emotional, and mental health of students and educators.
Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.