Serving Preschool Through 8th Grade in the San Francisco East Bay Since 1962

Seven Hills Students Lead the Way in Green Initiatives with Top Diversion Rate

For the past three years, Seven Hills has led the charge among over 60 Contra Costa County schools, public and private, with an impressive 88% diversion rate in 2024.

At Seven Hills, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of student life. Every week, the familiar blue trucks from Republic Services stop by to collect our waste, one for recycling, compost, and landfill. These collections are carefully weighed in our parking lot, and our diversion rate—the percentage of waste we keep out of landfills—is calculated. This rate is a powerful measure of how effectively we manage waste and reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship.

For the past three years, Seven Hills has led the charge among over 60 Contra Costa County schools, public and private, with an impressive 88% diversion rate in 2024. For perspective, this year's second-place school achieved 81%, and the third, 76%. These results highlight our community's dedication to minimizing waste and maximizing sustainability.

The young leaders of our Lower School Kids Green Committee and Middle School Environmental Action Group embody collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and a shared commitment to sustainability. Through thoughtful discussions and creative problem-solving, they never stop seeking innovative ways to “go green” and inspire others to do the same. Their curiosity and gratitude drive the meaningful progress of our environmental programs:

“I’m grateful for the earthworms that decompose our soil.”
“I’m curious why some plastic cups marked compostable or biodegradable have to go in our landfill bins. The answer? About 3% of composting machines in the U.S. can break those products down.”
“I’m grateful for the kids who thought up the Kids Green Committee and made more things possible.”

Our school's value of sustainability is woven into every aspect of campus life at school. From using reusable dishware at lunch to composting food scraps and bringing refillable water bottles from home, our community is creating real change. These initiatives not only reduce waste but also provide daily opportunities for students, teachers, and families to practice and model environmental responsibility.

Thank you, Seven Hills community, for your fantastic work and dedication to our green initiatives. Together, we’re not just making an impact—we’re leading the way!

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