A Guide for Schools & Groups
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INTRODUCTION .K
THE BENEFITS OF
WASTE PREVENTION .2
WASTE REDUCTION
PROGRAMS THAT WORK .3
STEPS FOR STARTING A
WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM
CASE STUDIES ................................. ¥1
RESOURCES
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Schools and Groups =
Waste Reduction
Opportunities
Organized groups have a tremendous
opportunity to operate waste reduction
programs. School-related groups might
include science classes, environmental clubs,
and parent-teacher organizations. Other
groups might include Girl and Boy Scouts,
Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, or Future
Farmers.These groups can often educate
the whole community about the benefits of
waste reduction and encourage everyone to
make waste reduction a part of their
everyday life styles. Increasing the flow of
reusable and recyclable materials can even
generate extra funds for school
departments and groups.
No matter how you live, work, and
play, everyone produces waste.
We can control this waste by
reducing, reusing, and recycling it.
While many people already recycle
products at home, waste reduction
opportunities exist anywhere we have
waste. Recycling is one way to reduce
waste; reusing products is another.
Products that can be reused and recycled
are countless, and include everything from
paper to clothing to worn-out electronics.
Some examples of the many items we can
reuse include clothing, school supplies, and
sports and electronic equipment.The items
we most commonly recycle are paper,
aluminum, glass, steel, cardboard, and
yard waste.
Most waste reduction efforts save money,
energy, and natural resources, and can
teach children and young adults how
solid waste affects their lives and their
environment.
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Be Part of the
Solution
Nearly 70 million
tons of materials
were recycled or
composted in
2000. Help add to
that number by
recycling at least
one pound of
waste per day.
The economic and environmental
benefits of waste reduction (which
includes preventing waste, reusing,
and recycling) accrue both locally and
globally.These activities can:
• Prevent pollution created by
manufacturing new products or
products made from virgin materials.
• Save energy in manufacturing,
transportation, and disposal of
products.
Decrease greenhouse gas emissions,
which contribute to global climate
change.
• Conserve natural resources such as
timber, water, metals, and fossil fuels.
• Reduce the need for landfilling and
incineration, which are expensive to
operate and maintain.
Protect and expand U.S. manufacturing
jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.
• Help sustain the environment for future
generations.
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You Are Unique
The ideas in this handbook require
various levels of commitment and
support. Depending on the nature of your
school or organization, you will have
different needs and considerations in
terms of storage, space, time,
commitment, types of materials collected,
costs and level of interest and
participation. As you consider various
waste reduction options, think carefully
about your overall capabilities to meet
your program's goals. Also, keep in mind
that you might run into issues specific to
your school or group that need to be
resolved before you can begin a program.
The following options for waste
reduction programs are some
suggested methods that work for
others.After evaluating your needs,
capabilities, and goals, choose the option
that works best for you.
• One-time or periodic reuse or
recycling drives
• Continually operating reuse or
recycling programs
• Stationary or mobile collection
centers
• Sponsored waste reduction
programs
• Credit accounts at local recycling
or materials collection centers.
After assessing these options, use the
worksheets on pages I I and 12 to help
you get started.
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periodic reuse or recycling
drives
Students and groups can establish one-time
or periodic drives to collect reusable and
recyclable items. Reusable items, such as
clothing, books, toys, computers, and other
electronic equipment, or recyclable
materials, such as paper, aluminum, glass,
and plastic, can be brought to a drop-off
location on an appointed day or days.
A reuse program might involve:
• Swapping with one another on site.
• Donating the collected materials to a
specific beneficiary, such as a library,
shelter, or charitable organization.
• Selling the collected materials at a
community yard sale and using the
profit for school or group activities.
(These drives are also sometimes part
of a national, state, or local government
campaigns.)
• Collecting materials for a commercially
sponsored "take-back" program.
A recycling program might involve:
• Having your local recycling center
collect the materials and transport
them back to the center for processing.
• Arranging for adult volunteers to take
the collected materials to the recycling
center.
• Hiring a hauler for transportation.
Seasonal Products
Collect Christmas trees and recycle them
into mulch. Use the mulch to help offset
landscaping costs in green spaces at your
school or group's location. Alternatively, you
can donate the mulch to nursing homes or
other organizations for their use. If you
collect enough trees, you can also consider
selling the mulch for fund-raising. Keep in
mind that you will need to rent
mulching/shredding equipment from your
home improvement store, unless you can find
someone to loan a free machine to a good
cause! And remember, only an adult can
operate such equipment.
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If you have a community waste reduction
or recycling coordinator, be sure to
coordinate with them on this process.
This option does not require long-term
storage space, but it does require extra
space in people's homes for collecting
materials before they are brought to the
collection location.
Establish a continually
operating reuse or recycling
program
Many different kinds of permanent reuse
or recycling programs exist, with different
options for funding, supplies, and services.
Student-run clubs, local or state
government programs, or nonprofit
institutions are all possible sources of
support for your program. For this kind
of program, your school or group needs
collection bins and storage space for the
reusable or recyclable materials, which
also should be picked up regularly by a
designated hauler.
Even though a long-term reuse or
recycling program requires careful planning
and continuous outreach, it can also offer
great rewards. Such a program allows
participants to see the results of their
collection efforts on a daily or weekly
basis. Depending on how the program
is set up, students might even run the
program, with adult supervision. An
in-school or outside group program also
greatly encourages people to make waste
reduction part of their daily routine.
School
Supplies
Many students
leave school
supplies in their
lockers at the
end of the year
or dispose of
them at home.
Instead of
throwing these
items away,
regularly
collect them for
a community
sale or donation
drive. Some of
these materials
can be very
useful to
others.
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Composting
Composting is an age-old practice with
modern-day applications that appeals
to people of all ages. Composting is the
controlled biological decomposition
of organic material, such as food scraps or
lawn trimmings. It is also a waste reduction
method.
Collecting certain food scraps and
yard trimmings significantly reduces
the amount of waste that needs to be
disposed of or otherwise managed. Compost
can be used as a soil additive to improve soil
texture, increase the ability of soil to absorb
air and water, suppress weed growth,
decrease erosion, reduce the need to apply
commercial soil additives, and degrade some
toxic materials in the soil.
Many municipalities collect compostable
materials, such as yard and food scraps, paper,
and coffee grounds and filters, instead of
disposing of the waste.This technique may
require more time, commitment,
management, supervision, and space than
other waste reduction programs discussed in
this handbook, but it is a viable option proven
to be successful in schools, groups, and
communities.Your school or group should
work closely with your community leaders
before beginning this kind of waste reduction
program. Lawn businesses can also collect
yard waste and conduct their own
composting program. For more detailed
information on composting, visit
or .
Establish a stationary or
mobile collection center
Because schools often serve as focal points
for local residents, they are ideal for
stationary reuse and recycling drop-off
points. A storage facility where people can
drop off their reusable and recyclable
products should be put in an easily
accessible holding area, such as a parking
lot.You can either arrange for pickup of the
collected items by a local recycling center
or hauler or enlist volunteers to transport
the collected materials to a nearby recycling
center or charity. For some very specific
materials, such as computers and other
electronics, you might need to make special
arrangements with a manufacturer or
business that collects those particular items
(sometimes called "take-back programs").
Schools in smaller communities or rural
areas can also serve as mobile recycling
centers. Smaller schools or groups can
make arrangements to share a trailer that
travels to different locations. For example,
the trailer can be borrowed from a
recycling center for a special fund-raising
activity.
Since these waste reduction programs
directly involve the community and depend
heavily on the support of its residents, be
sure to widely publicize your efforts to
maximize participation. Post a schedule of
the trailer's stops in schools, in area stores,
and on the Internet.
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You will need storage space at each pick-
up point where reusables or recyclables
can be collected until the trailer arrives.
Arrange for convenient locations, such as
grocery store parking lots, to temporarily
park the trailer, and establish regular
deposit schedules with your local
recycling facility.
Team up with a sponsor
for waste reduction
programs
Corporate or government organizations
sometimes sponsor reuse or recycling
drives or donate money or supplies to
start a waste reduction program.
Corporate sponsors may be good
sources for funding and advertising, but
you might have to follow their guidelines
and have the sponsor's name associated
with your school or group.
Through EPA's "Plug-In To eCycling"
program, companies that manufacture and
sell consumer electronics are teaming up
with government agencies to increase the
opportunities Americans have to reuse or
recycle their old electronics and motivate
them to make use of these opportunities.
Your school or group may be able to
spread the word about these
opportunities, or may be welcome
volunteers at some events. See the
"Resources" section for more
information.
Do you have any
old computers, cell phones, stereo
equipment, televisions,VCRs, PDAs,
video games, or other electronic equipment
sitting around in your home? Believe it or not,
these items, as well as other pieces of electronic
equipment, can be recycled and refurbished for
reuse in your schools and community
organizations.You can help by partnering with
your local government or community groups on
their electronics recycling efforts.
To learn more about e-cycling and ways you can
contribute to the safe reuse and recycling of
electronics, see EPA's "Plug-In To eCycling Event
Tool Kit." Offering valuable guidance on planning,
funding, staffing, and collecting and reporting, the
kit is intended to provide interested individuals
with easy-to-act-on information, helping them plan
successful recycling collection events for
consumer electronics.
The Event Tool Kit provides valuable information
about:
• Your first steps in planning an event
• Necessary tasks to complete before the
event
• Things you need to know about the day of
the event
• Important post-event tasks
To learn more about EPA's "Plug-In To eCycling"
Program, and to view an online version of the
"Plug-In To eCycling Event Tool Kit," visit
.
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Establish a "credit
account" with a local
recycling center
If a school or group establishes a "credit
account" with a local recycling center, the
monetary value of any recyclables
dropped off there will be added to that
account. Students and others can drop off
recyclables and have the proceeds of
those items posted to that account.That
means your school or group will receive
the money from those recyclables.
Promoting the school or group that will
be the recipient of the recycling effort is
important as a motivator for participation
and to ensure that credit is properly
given to the organization. Classroom
activities and publicity reinforce recycling
lessons and increase participation. If
storage space is a problem for your
location, you might want to consider this
type of program.
Recycling Ideas
?: If you collect paper for recycling, be
sure you are collecting it properly. Contact
your municipal solid waste management agency
or your local recycling center, and follow their
specific guidelines on collecting and sorting.
Your diligence in sorting will ensure that the
paper is not only recyclable but also
marketable to companies that can turn it into
recycled-content products.
' Regardless of color, most glass food
and beverage containers are 100 percent
recyclable and can be reused an infinite
amount of times. Some glass products, such as
windows, mirrors, drinking glasses, dishes, and
light bulbs, cannot be recycled.
Be sure to find out if your local recycling
center has any restrictions regarding
separation of colors before you start collecting
glass for recycling.Also check with the center
about metal tops and rings.
: Different metals require different
recycling processes. Two of the most common
metals that are recyclable from schools are
aluminum cans and steel (actually tin-coated
steel) cans. An easy way for students to
separate steel from aluminum is to hold a
magnet to them. Magnets won't stick to
aluminum. If you plan to collect mixed metals,
you might be able to borrow magnetic sorting
tables from a can recycling company. Check
with your local recycling center or solid waste
agency.
' Different types of plastic are
chemically different and are, therefore, recycled
differently. Schools commonly generate two
types of recyclable plastic: polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) and high-density
polyethylene (HOPE). Check with your local
recycling center or solid waste agency to find
out which types of plastic are accepted.
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Safety First
Remember to consider safety issues when
deciding what kind of waste reduction
program you want to run. For example, if
you are holding a glass recycling program at
an elementary school, make sure glass
recyclables are safely contained and handled
by adults. Middle and high school students
are probably able to manage these products
safely with the proper equipment. Be sure
to wear heavy gloves and goggles while
handling glass recyclables. Also be sure to
wash glass products before adding them to
the recycling bin to avoid bugs, odors, and
rodents. Also make sure that everyone,
including students participating in the
program, is covered by the appropriate and
necessary insurance in case of;
T
he most successful reuse and recycling
programs follow a series of steps, as
follows:
Select the type of waste reduction
program that works best for your
group.
Organize a team.
Decide what materials to collect.
Identify viable end uses or markets for
your materials.
Work out a budget.
Contact your local authorities for
assistance.
Establish a system for collecting and
storing materials.
Educate your school and group about
the waste reduction program.
Set overall and individual goals.
Reward participants.
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K:
SELECT THE TYPE OF WASTE REDUCTION
PROGRAM THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOUR
GROUP
You can model your program after one
described in this handbook or design one
to fit your schools and group's needs.
Because the success of your waste
reduction program will depend on the
level of interest and enthusiasm in your
school or group, let others help you make
this decision.
One possible way to measure the level of
interest in your program is to survey
students, parents, and group leaders,
asking specific questions about their
willingness to participate. Some questions
to ask might include:
• Do you know about the benefits of
reusing and recycling?
• Are you willing to keep reusable and
recyclable materials at home?
• Are you able to bring reusable and
recyclable material to school or
another drop-off location?
Can you donate your time to
volunteer for the program?
• Can you contribute money or donate
advertising for the program?
After the survey has been completed, you
can use the results to gauge which type
of collection program might work best
for your school or group.
ORGANIZE A TEAM
A good team will help the program run
smoothly. Besides being responsible for
program planning, publicity, and
operations, the team structure makes
waste reduction fun.The team can include
students, parents, teachers, custodians, or
other volunteers. A strong team leader is
essential for generating support and
enthusiasm for the waste reduction
program. A student leader, department
director, club sponsor, or teacher, whose
program benefits from the waste
reduction effort, is a good choice for
team leader. In fact, anyone interested in
protecting the environment by reusing or
recycling will probably do a great job!
3:
DECIDE WHAT MATERIALS TO COLLECT
Deciding what materials to collect for
reuse and recycling is an important initial
step.You might know of a particular
material or product that is generated in
large quantities that can easily be reused
or recycled, and you might want to focus
your entire program on that one
material.You might decide to address a
once-a-year issue, such as Christmas
trees or old telephone books. Or, you
might want to address an issue that is
not handled by your municipal recycling
program, such as batteries or electronic
equipment.
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When deciding what materials you want
to include in your reuse or recycling
program, first consider what programs
are already underway in your area. Use
the worksheet below to help you. Next,
consider materials that you know you
can sell, donate, or otherwise
deposit at a municipal recycling center.
Participating in a community waste
reduction program is only part of the
reusing and recycling process. For reuse
to succeed, materials must be donated or
sold to people or organizations that will
use the material. For recycling to succeed
fully, recyclable materials must be sold to
a company that can process them into
new products, and those products must
be purchased and used.
Paper, bottles, jars, and cans are some of
the most commonly collected items in
municipalities, schools, and groups.
Detailed information on collectible
commodities can be found at:
.
IDENTIFY VIABLE END USES AND
MARKETS FOR YOUR MATERIALS
Before you embark on a collection effort,
you need to identify a "home" or market
for the materials you will collect.
Remember the adage,"one person's trash
is another person's treasure." You might
not have any more use for a product, but
chances are, someone else does.
Before beginning any type of reuse or recycling program, assess what types of programs are already underway in your
area.You can use the sample worksheet below to determine whether it is feasible or necessary to start another reuse
or recycling program.
Sample Assessment of Current Reuse and Recycling Programs Already Underway in Your Area
I. What agencies/organizations/companies are already collecting reusables/recyclables?
Contact names and phone numbers:.
2. What materials are collected for reuse?
3. What materials are collected for recycling?.
4. How is collection conducted? (e.g., curbside pickup, drop-off points)
5. Is your school or group already participating in a reuse or recycling program?
How does participation work?_
6. What are future area plans for collection of reusables/recyclables?.
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Knowledge of your own community's
resources can be your first step to locating
an end use for reusable materials. Libraries,
charities, schools, community centers, or
even local businesses might be places to
donate or sell used materials.The local
phone book and the Internet are good
resources for material markets as well.
Look in the yellow pages under recycling,
charities, waste paper, and salvage or scrap
dealers. If your area government already
collects some materials and has a local
municipal, tribal, or county recycling
coordinator, that person can help you find
markets for your reusable and recyclable
materials.You might also contact your state
environmental agency for assistance in
locating viable markets.
Once you have identified a market for
your reusable and recyclable materials,
find out what services they have; how
and when they pay; if, and how often, they
collect items; and whether they transport
the materials.The highest price per pound
might not always be the only thing to
consider if you have to transport
products yourself.
The sample form on this page can help you
determine items that might be good
candidates for reuse or recycling by your
school or group.
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I. Candidate materials for reuse:
Candidate materials for recycling:
2. Amount available for
Jbs/month
Amount available for recycling:
3. Approximate net selling price for reusables:
Jbs/month
Approximate net selling price for recyclables:
_$/month
4. New costs for group to collect or reuse:
New costs for group to recycle:
_$/month
_$/month
_$/month
5. Estimated net revenues (Item 2 x Item 3 - Item 4)
Reuse: $/month
Recycling: _
6. Estimated savings from current practice
(Item 2 x current hauling cost)
Reuse:
Recycling:
7. Net gain or less (Item 5 + Item 6)
Reuse:
Recycling: _
_$/month
_$/month
_$/month
_$/month
_$/month
8. Subjective factors
Consider these questions for each material on the candidate list:
• Is this material consistent with community solid waste manage-
ment plans? YES NO
• Is there a market for this material (paying market or recipient)?
YES NO
• Is re use/recycling compatible with other reuse/recycling programs
for this item in the school/group?
YES NO
• Are the equipment needs and methods for collection for this
item "reasonable" and sustainable?
YES NO
• Will reusing/recycling this item have a significant environmental
benefit? YES NO
• Are there any items that can be collected or donated for free?
YES NO
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WORK OUT A BUDGET
Setting up and operating a waste reduction
program costs money.These costs often can
be recovered from your reuse and recycling
revenues. Find out if your school, group, or
sponsor's budget can cover the launch and
possibly some operating costs. Look for
funding sources, such as your parent-teacher
organization, local service clubs, local civic or
church groups, local businesses or sponsors,
or the student body general fund.
Possible costs might include:
• Supplies and equipment
• Transportation of materials
Facility construction, maintenance, and/or
rental
• Storage space rental
Insurance
• Utilities
• Advertising
• Labor wages
6:
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR
ASSISTANCE
Because local ordinances might apply to waste
reduction programs, you should contact your
local authorities before starting your
program. If you're considering any type of in-
Recycling
Requires
Recyclers
Remember that your
school or school-
related group can only
recycle materials
accepted by your local
recycling facility or by
other entities, such as
manufacturers. Make
a list of items you
would like to recycle
and then call your
recycling center or
other sources to verify
that they will accept
those items.
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school program, check with the fire
marshal, school administrators, and building
superintendents regarding storage
containers and collection do's and don'ts.
Paper recycling, for example, might have
specific requirements to prevent fire
hazards.You might also check with local
solid waste management officials to see if
your area can get credit for your group's
waste reduction efforts when applying for
state tonnage grants. If so, you'll need to
keep records about the types and weights
or volumes of your reusable and recyclable
materials.
Be careful not to compete with other local
organizations that regularly conduct waste
reduction programs. Existing volunteer
groups (such as a Girl or Boy Scout Troop)
that conduct waste reduction drives might
depend on the program for money and
goodwill. When possible, try to combine
your resources and efforts with theirs.
7:
ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING
AND STORING MATERIALS
An efficient collection program is simple
and well-organized. Depending on the type
of program, you should designate logical
deposit locations, either within or around
your drop-off location.You should also
acquire, label, and place appropriate
containers for the collected materials.
If you store reusable and recyclable
materials at school, you'll need ample
Reuse Ideas
: Instead of tossing your
old books, consider establishing a
book swap in your school or
community. Or, take up a collection
and donate used books to a library,
nursing home, or other organization
that might want them.
Al?t» Supplies: Organize a
collection of art supplies to use at
school, to swap among interested
students, or to donate to a needy
organization such as a homeless
shelter for families and children.
These materials can be hazardous if
sent to landfills or incinerators, so
encourage complete use or donation
of unused supplies.
Equipment*: You
can collect unwanted or unused
sports equipment to swap within a
school, for reuse in different schools,
or to raise money for charities.
Special Occasion
IfieitJS: Consider an annual prom
dress swap or donation drive.
Collect once-worn dresses and
donate them to other interested
schools and organizations. For more
ideas on prom dress swaps, see the
case study on page 1 8.
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storage space with truck access.You can use a
shed, garage, or even a receptacle specially
designed for your type of product. Smaller
spaces might need "igloo" type structures,
while larger areas might hold special
dumpster-like storage bins.
Properly separated recyclables usually will
bring higher prices.Your local recycling center
can specify how materials should be
separated. Establishing a good, long-term
relationship with your center can prevent
possible disruption of service due to
unacceptable materials.
8:
EDUCATE YOUR SCHOOL, GROUP, AND
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WASTE REDUCTION
PROGRAM
Notify the entire school, members of your
club or group, and the surrounding
community about your waste reduction
program.You should explain how it will run,
and when and where collections will occur.
You can also display examples of reusable and
recyclable materials and storage containers.
Advertising is essential to your waste
reduction program's success. At the start of
your program, send flyers home with students
or group members to inform parents and
others of program specifics. Display posters,
make announcements, and consider having a
special assembly or presentation to kick off
the program. Send press releases to local
newspapers and radio and TV stations to
encourage the community at large to
Recycle and Buy
Recycled Too!
Selling your recovered materials is really
only one part of the recycling process.
Recycling involves separating reusable
materials, collecting them, processing
them, making them into new usable
items, and then marketing and purchasing
the new products. When people use
products made from recycled materials,
they are "closing the recycling loop."
Remanufactured material is critical to the
success of recycling. If material is simply
collected and stored, we cannot achieve
our ultimate goal of waste reduction.
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participate. Run announcements in weekly
shopping circulars, local bulletins, and club
and church newsletters. Post flyers
around town in local stores. States, tribes,
and communities might help promote
your waste reduction program, so check
with officials about special publications or
presentations they might have developed
about reuse and recycling.
d:
SET OVERALL AND INDIVIDUAL GOALS
Goals usually encourage people to excel.
Set a target amount of reusable and
recyclable material that you want to
reach and keep a running total
prominently displayed. Children, especially
elementary school-aged children, work
hard to reach goals if they know what is
expected.You could even set individual
goals for participants.
REWARD PARTICIPANTS
Your program should stress the
environmental benefits of reuse and
recycling. A reward system, however, may
provide stronger incentives to make your
waste reduction program successful.Take
into account school or group size and
available resources when establishing
rewards, so that everyone has an equal
chance of winning something.
The rewards you offer will probably
depend on your budget. In some
successful programs, the winning group
received free pizza, a zoo trip, computers,
or other new school equipment. In other
programs, participants were awarded
"Certificates of Appreciation" or earned
Scout badges. Rewards might be donated
by local businesses or bought with the
proceeds of the waste reduction
program. Individuals can be rewarded for
outstanding efforts with cash prizes or
gift certificates.
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The following case studies provide
examples of how individuals, schools,
municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and
others have started reuse and recycling
programs in their communities.These
resources can give you ideas for how to
start the same kinds of programs with
your schools and groups.
Reuse Programs
Reusing Computer Equipment in
Atlanta, Georgia
Three 13-year-old students at
Westminster School in Atlanta, Georgia,
recognized that many community groups
and organizations needed computer
equipment that they could not afford.
At the same time, the students noted that
many businesses and individuals had
equipment that they no longer wanted
or needed. Putting two and two together,
the students established Free Bytes,
a nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing needy organizations with
unused or discarded computer equipment
and keeping these computers out of the
waste stream. Free Bytes has been
operating since 1992.
After joining efforts with a special-
interest PC-users group in 1997, the
organization currently operates under
the name Free Bytes NP, Inc.The
organization is still partially run by
student volunteers and has successfully
diverted more than 4,000 computers
from landfills by providing them to more
than 600 nonprofit organizations
throughout Georgia.
For more information, contact:
Timothy L. Gott, Executive Director
Free Bytes NP, Inc.
P.O. Box 550371
Atlanta, GA 30355-0371
Phone:404846-8414
Fax: 501 421-7903
E-mail: questions@freebyte.net
Web site: www.freebytes.org
Salvaging Usable School Supplies
in Montgomery County, Maryland
A local resident in Montgomery County,
Maryland, found a creative way to address
several educational and environmental
challenges by starting "The Drive for
Locker Supplies." Middle schools now
hold a special drive to recover and reuse
school supplies, clothes, and other goods
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abandoned in lockers when students
leave for the summer. Student volunteers
clean out students' lockers at the end of
the year and usable school supplies are
delivered to needy students in other
states and overseas to countries such as
Nicaragua and the Phillippines. From the
lockers of 35 middle schools, one year's
collection netted about $50,000 worth of
notebooks, pencils, calculators, and other
miscellaneous items, including a closet full
of unclaimed coats.
For more information, contact:
Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer
Learn Shop, Inc.
P.O. Box 1754
Wheaton, MD 20915-1754
Phone:301 942-1074
Web site: www.learnshop.org
Sharing Business Supplies with
Schools in Portland, Oregon
SCRAP—The School and Community
Reuse Action Project—is a nonprofit
group in Portland, Oregon, that collects
reusable items from local businesses and
distributes them to area schools, families,
and children. Its mission is to keep
valuable materials out of landfills, offer
these materials at low prices, and inspire
the creative reuse of materials.
SCRAP holds an annual "Back to SCRAP"
festival every September, a creative
festival of reuse education, art, and music.
Educators are invited to come and find
inspiration for lessons by perusing the
creative reuse of materials showcased.
For more information, contact:
Teri Thomas Petersen
SCRAP 3625-B
North Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
Phone: 503 294-0769
E-mail: info@scrapaction.org
Donating Formal Dresses for
Proms in Reston,Virginia
In Spring 2002, Shauna Cole—director of
the Teen Program at the Reston
Community Center in Reston.Virginia—
started the center's first Prom Dress
Giveaway. Cole wanted to help area high
school girls find the right dress for their
special night without spending several
hundred dollars at a department store.
The Community Center collected about
500 donated dresses, as well as jewelry,
shoes, and mini makeup kits, from all over
Northern Virginia.Those that were not
given away to high school girls were
donated to area clothing drives, ensuring
that someone in need received the
articles.This program not only helps to
complete a very special night for many
DC area girls, but also minimizes the
amount of materials entering the waste
stream.
Many believe this program was inspired
by Washington, DC residents Rita Bright
and Ann Oliva, who decided to open up
their closets and help out those in need.
Since 1994, Rita Bright and Ann Oliva
have given away more than 1,200 dresses
and have inspired efforts of others in
New York City, Indianapolis, and Chicago.
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For more information, contact:
Shauna Cole
Reston Community Center
23 10 Colts Neck Road
Reston.VA 22091
Phone: 703 476-4500
E-mail: shauna.cole@fairfaxcounty.gov
Refurbishing Bikes for City Kids
in San Rafael, California
In !988,Trips for Kids, a nonprofit
organization in San Rafael, California, was
incorporated in the Bay Area by Marilyn
Price. Her goal was to give inner-city
children the opportunity to experience
the natural beauty of their environment
from the seat of a mountain bike. Since
the program's inception, hundreds of
volunteers have helped more than 7,800
kids from 220 agencies escape the
cement and concrete and head out to
the hills to experience a bike ride
through nature.
In 1994, the program expanded
significantly and established several other
programs, including the Re-Cyclery Bike
Thrift Shop, located in downtown San
Rafael.This program gives a second life to
used bikes, parts, and accessories, while
offering an affordable, alternative
transportation option to low-income
residents.The program's daily activities
revolve around the three Rs - reduce,
reuse, and recycle. In 2002, the Re-
Cyclery Program repaired and sold 572
bikes after receiving over $500,000 worth
of new and used items from individuals
and manufacturers. Many of these parts
would most likely have ended up in
landfills.The program also provides bikes,
parts, and accessories to other programs,
such as the San Quentin Prison's bike
shop, where prisoners repair and donate
bikes to charities.
Trips for Kids became a national program
in 1999. Currently, there are 27 Trips for
Kids chapters around the United States
and Canada. Most chapters only conduct
mountain bike rides for inner city youth,
however, some have incorporated bicycle
thrift shops modeled after the Re-Cyclery
Program.
For more information, contact:
Marilyn Price, Founder/Director
Trips For Kids
610 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone:415458-2986
E-mail: tfkbike@pacbell.net
Web site:
Recycling Programs
Operating An Award-Wining
Recycling Program in Broward
County, Florida
The Broward County School Board in
Florida operates an award-winning
recycling program that relies on three
main elements: collection, education, and
tracking. Collection at more than 200
participating schools and offices is
accomplished through in-school
cooperation between student volunteers
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and custodial staff who empty recycling
bins into dumpsters for weekly pick-up
through several private contracts with
collection companies. Broward County
also initiated a number of innovative
educational programs including
workshops for facilities workers, a
recycling fair, and recycling career days.
The program measures its success by
tracking data, such as the number of
pounds collected, and conducting annual
waste audits.
For more information, contact:
Broward County School System
Phone: 954 765-703 I
Web site: www.co.broward.fl.us/
iwi03300.htm
Developing a Comprehensive
School Recycling Program in
Calico Rock, Arkansas
Calico Rock High School in Calico,
Arkansas, founded a recycling program
that has, as of 2003, prevented 26,880
pounds of cardboard, plastic bottles, and
paper from being thrown away.The
school estimates that this effort saved
93,800 gallons of water, 228 trees, 44.4
cubic yards of landfill space, and 54,940
kilowatt hours of electricity. During the
1997-1998 school year.CRHS recycled
544+ pounds of aluminum cans.This
averaged 15.1 pounds per week (2.2
pounds per day) which saved enough
electricity to power a television for over
two years.The program was funded by an
Excellence in Recycling Award grant from
the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
in 1997 and was granted another $ 1,000
award the following year to expand to
both campuses, as well as both cafeterias.
The school also used their second grant
to set up a recycling center for the
community on its elementary school
campus.This center now has over 20
volunteers and is open to the public two
days per week, with their recyclables
picked up weekly byTri-County Recycling
Center of Ash Flat. Items accepted
include white paper, newspaper,
corrugated cardboard, pasteboard,
magazines, # I and #2 plastics, steel cans,
and aluminum cans.
For more information, contact:
Rachel Faulkner
Calico Rock High School
301 College Street
P.O. Box 220
Calico Rock,AK 725 19
Phone: 870 297-3745
Web site: http://pirates.kl2.ar.us/crhs/
academics.htm (then follow the links to
Science, then Recycling Project or Calico
Rock Recycling Drop-Off Center)
Raising Money Through Recycling
in Clark, New Jersey
The Clark-Winfield Girl Scouts (CWGS)
in Clark, New Jersey, learned that
recycling awareness not only keeps
materials out of landfills and saves
valuable natural resources for future
generations, but it can also generate a
wealth of funds through collective action.
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The CWGS has participated in The Great
Aluminum Can RoundUP since 1993 and,
with the Clark Volunteer Fire
Department, has designed a program to
recycle aluminum cans to raise much-
needed funds for the St. Barnabas Burn
Foundation program.
The Girl Scouts bring their cans to a
scheduled drop off every 2 weeks, where
they are weighed and then transported to
a local recycler by members of the Clark
Volunteer Fire Department. In less than a
year, 53 Girl Scouts collected and
recycled a total of 4,583 pounds of
aluminum cans. Since the inception of
the program, the CWGS helped raise
more than $ 10,000 for the St. Barnabas
Burn Foundation.This money helps
purchase non-medical items and provide
financial assistance for the families of
young burn victims.
For more information, contact:
Clark-Winfield Girl Scouts
Janet Mannino, Service Unit Manager
12 Picton Street
Clark, New Jersey 07066
Mastering Recycling at School in
Lancaster, New York
More than 1,200 5th and 6th grade
students at Lancaster Central Schools in
Lancaster, New York, initiated a recycling
program to collect paper, cardboard, glass,
plastic bottles, and milk cartons. In
September 2002, the program began
collecting tin cans as well. Students
learned how to help collect the
recyclables from their school bins and
also are tracking their program's
progress.To raise awareness and support,
students designed posters and helped to
submit an article to the local newspaper.
Lancaster Central Schools currently have
six schools participating in EPA's
WasteWise program, and plans are
underway to expand the recycling
program to three more schools.The
schools have added 15 new courtyard
benches made from 100 percent recycled
plastic milk jugs, an effort that helped
prevent 24,000 plastic milk jugs from
entering landfills. In addition, Lancaster
Central Schools have begun to recycle
school furniture, such as television
brackets, that get reused as shelving units
and bench supports for team seats.
For more information, contact:
Dennis Weist
177 Central Avenue
Lancaster, NY 14086
Phone:716686-3209
Reducing Waste by Half in Los
Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Unified School District
Waste Reduction and Recycling Program
in California works with facility managers
to explore new methods of waste
management and recycling. Currently the
district recycles paper, toner cartridges,
and beverage containers.The school
district has successfully reduced its
waste by 50 percent. In recognition of
these achievements, EPA presented an
Environmental Achievement Award to the
Office of Environmental Health and Safety
(OEMS) in 2002.
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For more information, contact:
Soe Aung, Environmental Compliance
Manager
Environmental Health and Safety Branch
1449 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213 743-5086
Web site: www.lalc.k 12.ca.us/target/units/
recycle/lausd.html
Composting in School in San
Francisco, California
Many of San Francisco, California's
students are no longer throwing away
their half-eaten burritos, apple cores, and
napkins. Instead, they're composting them!
With support from the San Francisco
Foundation and the California Integrated
Waste Management Board, the San
Francisco Department of the
Environment and Sunset Scavenger have
assisted more than 30 San Francisco
schools with establishing and maintaining
organics collection programs through
education, outreach, and environmental
stewardship.
Schools that participate in the organics
program collect all food, paper, and yard
waste, which is then picked up by their
waste hauler and composted at an off-site
facility in Dixon, California.The result is a
high quality, nitrogen-rich soil amendment
that is used as fertilizer. Most importantly,
as schools reduce their landfill-bound
waste, the students learn the ABCs of
waste reduction, and have the
opportunity to apply their knowledge by
serving as peer educators and monitors
for the organics program!
For more information, contact:
San Francisco Department of the
Environment
School Education Program
I I Grove Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415 355-3700
Web site: www.sfenvironment.org
Reuse and Recycling
Programs
Competing for Waste Reduction
Solutions in New York, New York
In 2002, the New York City (NYC)
Department of Sanitation awarded
$148,000 in cash prizes to schools all
over NYC through their Golden Apple
Awards program.This program consists
of three contests for all NYC schools,
grades K.-I2. In each contest, schools
compete against other schools within
their grade division (elementary, middle,
and high school) to win cash prizes.The
three contests that form part of the
Golden Apple Awards include:
• TrashMasters Reduce and Reuse
Challenge: Awards cash prizes to
schools in each borough for the most
innovative and successful waste
prevention practices.
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• TrashMasters Super Recyclers:
Rewards schools in each borough
with cash prizes for model school
recycling programs that demonstrate
a school-wide commitment to
recycling.
• TrashMasters Team Up To Clean Up:
Gives cash prizes to schools in each
borough for outstanding community
cleanup and neighborhood
beautification projects.
For more information, contact:
NYC Department of Sanitation
Golden Apple Awards
Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and
Recycling
PO Box 156
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-0156
Phone:212-837-8259
Fax:212-837-8162
E-mail: bwprr.nycrecycles@verizon.net
Web: www.nyc.gov/sanitation and
www.nycwasteless.org
Saving Money and Materials
Through Reuse and Recycling in
Pasco County, Florida
A recycling program in the Pasco County,
Florida, school district saved Pasco
County approximately $2 million over
10 years.The program generated savings
by reducing its disposal costs (from
$600,000 to $300,000 annually) and
earning nearly $50,000 annually through
the sale and auction of scrap metal and
old equipment. Area students and
teachers supported the effort by
appointing a recycling coordinator in each
school and creating a student-led "Earth
Patrol" to monitor campus recycling and
energy conservation activities.
Currently, 25 schools in the district
participate in the "Earth Patrol" program.
Materials collected in schools for
recycling include mixed paper, aluminum
cans, corrugated cardboard, fluorescent
light bulbs and ballasts, plastic bottles,
cooking oil, pallets, seat foam, milk
cartons, toner cartridges, and household
batteries. During the 2001 to 2002
school year, the district recycled about
I I tons of batteries and 58 tons of milk
cartons, bringing the total to more than
1,100 tons of total recycled material. In
the fall of 2002, the district started a
Cellular Phone Recycling Contest at
12 schools. So far they have collected a
total of 353 cell phones, which will
eventually be sent overseas for reuse.
The first place school received a $1,000
award, and the second and third place
schools each received computer
equipment for their recycling efforts.
In addition to the "Earth Patrol" program,
the Pasco County School District has
operated the Creation Station for the
past 6 years.This program transformed an
old warehouse into a reuse building that
stores leftover materials such as tiles and
fabric donated by various businesses.
Once every 2 months, the doors are
opened and school faculty members are
invited to come and take what they want
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to be used in various arts and crafts
projects for their students.This program
not only provides inspiration for the
creative reuse of materials, but also saves
area merchants hundreds of dollars in
disposal fees.
For more information, contact:
Mary Miller
Pasco County School District
7301 Land O' Lakes Blvd.
Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
Phone: 813 794-2752
E-mail: mmiller@pasco.kl2.fl.us
Making Money Through Waste
Reduction in Seattle,Washington
During the 2001 -2002 school year, a
group ofWhitman Middle School special
education students in Cheryl Nixon's
classes teamed up with Ecco Recycles
School Fundraising Program in Seattle,
Washington.The program buys back
empty inkjet toner and fax and laser
cartridges, and pays anywhere from 50
cents to $12 per cartridge.The students
decided to take their recycling and
fundraising efforts one step further and
formed their own company, Ink, Inc.,
complete with elected officers and
business cards. In addition to learning
about the benefits of recycling and reuse
in their business, Nixon's students learn
communication and organizational skills
through writing business letters and
public speaking.
Some of Ink, Inc.'s clients include the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service, the city of
Seattle, and IKEA.The Whitman students'
success was recently featured in an
October 2002 article in the Seattle
Times, and the students were given an
honorary membership to the Ballard
Chamber of Commerce. In its first school
year in business, Ink, Inc. topped $ 1,000 is
sales, selling roughly 500 cartridges to
Ecco Recycles.
For more information, contact:
Cheryl Nixon, Special Education Teacher
Whitman Middle School
9201 ISthAveNW
Seattle,WA 981 17
Phone:206252-1231
E-mail: showbizkidz@aol.com
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EPA Publications for
Teachers, Students, and
the Community
The following EPA materials for
teachers, students, and the
community provide information on
waste reduction; present ideas for
classroom, after-school, and extra-credit
activities; and provide lesson plans and
school projects.
Unless otherwise indicated, these
materials are available on the Internet
at either or
or can be ordered for
free by calling the RCRA Call Center
at 800 424-9346.
• The Make a Difference Kit:Your Life,
Your World, Your Choices
(EPA530-E-03-OOI)
A resource package of materials to
encourage teens in grades 7 to 12 to
make informed decisions in their
everyday lives. Contents include:
The Life Cycle of a CD or DVD
(EPA530-H-03-002)
A colorful poster showing the
product life cycle of a CD or DVD
from production through
recycling/reuse/ disposal. Includes
classroom and after school activities.
Service Learning: Education Beyond
the Classroom (EPA530-K-02-OOI)
Describes how kindergarten through
12th grade students across the
country are gaining hands-on
awareness of waste reduction,
recycling, and composting, through
solid waste service-learning projects.
The projects combine knowledge with
service and personal reflection.
A Collection of Solid Waste Resources
(EPA530-C-02-OOI) (interactive
CD-ROM)
Contains all of the electronic files for
publications and materials created by
EPA's Office of Solid Waste, with
topics ranging from recycling and
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municipal solid waste to home health
care, household hazardous waste,
composting, and life cycle
management.The most recent
addition also contains games and
activities for kids.
Volunteer for Change—A Guide To
Environmental Community Service
(EPA 530-K-OI- 002)
Designed to assist citizens interested
in initiating environmental volunteer
projects. It includes "The ABCs of
Volunteering" as well as short
descriptions of 12 environmental
volunteer activities undertaken by
citizens across the nation.
Science Fair Fun: Designing
Environmental Science Projects
(EPA530-K-00-008)
A short booklet intended to provide
students in grades 6 to 8 with ideas
and resources for developing
environmental science fair projects,
specifically in the areas of reducing,
reusing, and recycling waste materials.
The Plug-In To eCycling Toolkit
www. epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/
conservelpluginltoolkit. htm
Provides local governments, non-profit
organizations, electronics
manufacturers and retailers, and other
interested groups with key information
to help them stage electronics
recycling events.
Other Publications for
Schools and Groups
The following publications can provide
additional information about developing
and implementing a school or group
waste reduction program. Ordering
information is provided after each
description.
• Beyond Recycling: A Waste Reduction
Manual for Schools, Environmental
Resource Program, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and Office of
Waste Reduction, North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health,
and Natural Resources, undated.
A comprehensive manual on school
waste prevention and recycling, this
document covers program
management, waste assessments,
logistics, waste reduction strategies,
program maintenance, and case studies
(all drawn from North Carolina). It
provides guidance to school
administrators, teachers, staff, students,
and parents. Several worksheets and
checklists aid program implementation.
Available for free online at
or call 919715-6500.
• Conducting a Waste Audit in Your
School, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Solid
Waste District.
A short step-by-step guide to
performing a school waste audit.
Administrators, teachers, students, or
activists can use the guide to evaluate
school waste. Available for free online
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at or
call 216443-3749.
Creating Less Trash at School,
Minnesota Office of Environmental
Assistance, undated.
A pamphlet of waste prevention ideas
for students. Available for free online
at or
call 800 632-3299 or e-mail
Educational Resources for Waste
Management, Cornell Waste
Management Institute.
A catalog of educational materials on
the following topics: composting,
recycling, waste management,
enviroshopping, waste prevention, and
sewage sludge. Many of the resources
are suitable for schools (grades K-12).
Order various materials online at
or call
607 255-2080 or e-mail
(The Cornell
University Resource Center).
How to Make Waste Reduction and
Recycling Happen in Your School,
Solid Waste and Financial Assistance
Program, Washington State
Department of Ecology, 1998.
A document on school waste
reduction, this publication aims to be a
"step-by-step" guide to waste
reduction for administrators.
Completed sections include general
buy-recycled tips, waste prevention
tips, and guidance on recycling
programs. Contact Michelle Payne at
.
A Manual for Implementing School
Recycling Programs, MassRecycle (The
Massachusetts Recycling Coalition),
2002.
A detailed guide to school recycling,
this manual gives step-by-step
instructions for starting, building, and
maintaining school recycling programs.
It provides specific guidance on the
following recyclables: paper (including
white, colored, mixed, and newspaper
and magazines), corrugated cardboard,
mixed containers, aseptic packaging
(drink boxes), polystyrene, and food
waste. It also contains a number of
implementation and program
management suggestions and several
case studies. Available for free online at
or call 617 292-5500
(Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection).
Oregon Green School Tools, The
Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality, Waste Management and
Clean-up Division, Solid Waste Policy
& Programs Section, 1996.
A multi-purpose document for
principals, custodians, teachers,
students, parents, kitchen staff, site
councils, or school volunteers who are
working on improving the health and
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livability of their school environment.
This publication is the toolkit for the
Oregon Green Schools initiative
().
The theme of this toolkit is resource
efficiency.The document is full of
information on program management,
waste assessments, student and staff
education, measurement, and program
maintenance. Detailed checklists,
step-by-step instructions, and practical
suggestions enhance the document's
usability.Available for free online at
or call 503 229-5913 or e-mail
.
School Recycling Guide: Setting up
Solid Waste Recycling Programs in
Schools, Dr. ]. Winston Porter for Keep
America Beautiful, Inc., 2002.
A concise, step-by-step manual for
establishing, publicizing, and maintaining
school recycling programs, this book is
written for a broad audience:
administrators, facility managers,
custodians, teachers, and students.
The guide centers on the mechanics of
recycling—waste assessment, choosing
recyclables for collection, establishing
collection procedures. It covers the
most common school recyclables:
paper, plastics, aluminum, steel, glass,
electronics, and food and yard waste.
Order online for $7.50 at
.
Material order form can be obtained
online
or by e-mailing .
Fax or mail order form to Keep
America Beautiful at 203 325-9199 or
1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT
06901.
School Waste Reduction, California
Integrated Waste Management Board
(CIWMB).
CIWMB's Web site for school waste
reduction is designed for school
administrators (especially district-level
administrators).The section on school
waste composition, located at
, provides
some pointers for waste assessments
and audits in schools.The subpage on
waste reduction strategies,
, provides
extensive, practical suggestions for
waste reduction by functional area:
facilities and planning, food service,
maintenance and operations,
purchasing, technology services.
Available for free online at
.
Texas School Recycling Guide, Texas
Natural Resource Conservation
Commission, 2000.
A condensed guide to school recycling,
this guide highlights include practical
suggestions for education and program
maintenance, a list of school waste
prevention strategies, and a brief
discussion of school buy-recycled
activities. Available for free online at
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or call
5 12 239-0028 or e-mail
.
• Waste Audit Manual, /jams Nature
Center.
An activist's guide to school waste
audits, this site was written by
AmeriCorps volunteers who
performed school waste audits as a
service project.They estimated total
waste by analyzing three waste
streams: cafeteria waste, classroom
waste, and office waste. Available at
.
Waste Wise Schools Program,
EcoRecyc/e Victoria/Gould League.
The home page for an Australian
"Waste Wise" program for schools.
The program stresses school waste
prevention and recycling.This site
provides a library of waste reduction
checklists by functional area (general,
school administration, classroom,
cafeteria); 10 steps for waste
minimization, a page on program
management; a discussion of program
maintenance. Available at
Once your school or group's
reuse and recycling program is
underway, consider becoming a
partner in ERA's WasteWise pro-
gram. As a Waste Wise partner, you
will receive personal guidance
from your partner representative,
as well as other technical assis-
tance in the form of bulletins and
updates.Your school or group also
will have an opportunity to be
nationally recognized for your
waste prevention activities. Any
size program is eligible for
WasteWise membership. Check it
out at: .
&EPA
WASTE
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