D65 Sustainability Update: Feb 26
Aligned with our D65 Sustainability Plan, Sustainable Operations Waste & Circularity Goal #5: D65 is striving to reduce our waste to landfill and improve school recycling. In the Spring 2025 and Fall 2026, in partnership with our B&G team, we completed outdoor dumpster monitoring at our schools.
Why outdoor dumpster monitoring?
- Measure how full our current outdoor landfill and recycling containers are during a regular school day / week.
- Help us identify if we need bigger or smaller containers or adjustments in how often the containers are picked up.
- D65 wants to increase recycling at our schools and reduce waste to landfill.
We are pleased to share that starting in February, we are implementing service changes at 3 of our D65 schools (Dewey, King Arts and Park) resulting in an annual cost savings of $2,688.
Moving forward, we will continue to periodically complete outdoor dumpster monitoring at our schools as we strive to reduce waste to landfill and rightsize our waste services.
Technology Services and Sustainability are partnering with Genesis, our district’s Canon and HP printer service provider, to recycle used HP and Canon ink and toner cartridges. Each school will have a designated central drop-off location where staff can place empty cartridges, which will be collected and recycled quarterly (March, June, September, and December).
We have delivered and set-up reusable ink cartridge recycling boxes in all our D65 buildings. We're excited to roll this out district-wide and thanks to all in advance for supporting this district sustainability effort.
Please update your school's contact information for the 25-26 school year, including:
- Climate Action Team Chair(s)
- School Garden Team Chair(s)
- Climate Club
- School PTA and Newsletter emails
The Evanston Community Fridges are looking for community members to help shop for, clean, and deliver food for the three community fridges in Evanston. Evanston’s three community fridges provide free food and toiletries to any community member, anytime. To read about the donation guidelines and fridge locations, please visit https://www.evanstoncommunityfridges.com. To learn how to get more involved, please email evanstoncommunityfridge@gmail.com.
Evanston Community Cares (ECC) is a new grassroots effort created by local residents and leaders to ensure that every neighbor has reliable access to food, essential services, and emergency support. In response to the federal shutdown, SNAP disruptions, job loss, and rising financial pressures, our fund provides fast, compassionate mutual aid when families need it most. Learn more about how to support and get involved.
ESCCA, the Evanston School Children’s Clothing Association, is hard at work fulfilling its historic mission - to make sure no Evanston child misses school for lack of warm clothing or shoes. ESCCA opened its doors to District 65 children just before the start of the school year so they could visit our store and choose warm clothing, coats, shoes, boots, socks, undergarments, and more. ESCCA has received over 150 referrals so far this school year.
There are many ways to get involved with ESCCA:
Consider purchasing something from our Amazon Wishlist which we continue to update with the items we need most. Click HERE!
Contribute financially to ESCCA to help us purchase clothing for the shop. Click HERE!
Drop off warm clothing in The Clothing Bin - located at 1500 McDaniel Drive (behind the D65 Building)
- D65 Sustainability Website
- D65 Sustainability and Garden Resources Library
- D65 Climate Action & Garden Community Contact List
- D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 24-25 School Year
- D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 23-24 School Year
- D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 22-23 School Year
- D65 Sustainability Newsletter Archive