A Guide for Multi-Cultural Community Groups
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Chinese
Vietnamese
Khong ai biet ro ve cong dong cua qui vi hem chinh qui vi. Tren cuong vi la mot to chiic
cong dong, nguoti lanh dao hoac hoat dong giiip cong dong, qui vi dong mot vai tro chu
yeu trong viec nang cao nhan thiic ve bao ton tai nguyen, doi pho chat phe thai va bao ve
moi sinh cho cac thg he mai sau.
<«E , 1
Cong Tdc Cho Mot Moi Sinh Lanh Manh dugc lap ra de giup qui vi hoach dinh va thuc
hien nhtag sinh hoat trong cong dong de quang ba 3 R nham d6i pho chat phe thai: Reduce
(Giam Thilu), Reuse (Tai Sit Dung), va Recycle (Tai Chi).
Spanish
Nadie conoce a su comunidad mejor que usted. Como organizaci6n de base comunitaria,
lider comunitario o activista, usted se encuentra en una posici6n singular para dirigir los
esfuerzos de conscientizaci6n sobre la conservaci6n de recursos, el buen manejo de
desechos s61idos y el salvaguardar el medio ambiente para generaciones futuras.
\jando juntos por tin medio ambiente saludable estci disenado para ayudarle a
planiflcar y ejecutar eventos comunitarios a fin de promover las 3Rs del manejo de desechos:
reducir, reutUizar y reciclar.
Korean
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ORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
A Guide for Promoting Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
Solid Waste in Multi-Cultural Communities
Introduction . . 1
II. The 3Rs of Solid Waste Management: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle... 2
III. What You Can Do to Promote the 3Rs In Your Community 5
IV. Getting It Together 6
Organizing Your Community Event 6
Planning Your Community Event 8
V. What You Can Do: Event Ideas 9
Workshops On the 3Rs 9
Radio Contest //
Kids for A Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign 12
VI. Resources 16
Sample Letters 16
Educational Resources 22
Web Links.. . 22
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I. INTRODUCTION
No one knows your community better than you do. As a community-based organization, community
leader or activist, you are in a unique position to take the lead in raising awareness about resource
conservation, good solid waste management, and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Did you know that:
• Over 230 million tons of garbage are produced annually in the United States-that equals
4.5 pounds per person per day.
• Trash provides breeding grounds for rats, cockroaches, and other pests that can, in turn,
have negative health effects.
• Clean, trash-free neighborhoods are safer for children to play in.
• Clean communities promote a positive community identity and can result in increased
economic development.
Working Together for a Healthy Environment is designed to help you plan and execute community
events that promote the 3Rs of solid waste management: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
There are many things communities can do —
and are doing—to create cleaner, safer, healthier,
and more economically viable places to live,
work, and play. NOW is the time to take action!
A few words of advice: As you start
planning your campaign, you may
find that certain activities suggested in
this guide are more relevant to your
community's needs than others.
Or, you may need to conduct
additional educational workshops,
provide more publicity, or focus
on school or business events. Pick
and choose activities and events
that work best for your community.
Remember, you will all be
Working Together for a Healthy
Environment.
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II. THE 3RS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: REDUCE,
REUSE, AND RECYCLE
Across the country, many individuals, communities, and businesses have found creative ways to reduce
and better manage their trash through a coordinated mix of practices that includes the 3Rs of solid
waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Reduce
Source reduction, or waste prevention, means consuming and throwing away less. Source reduction can conserve
resources, reduce pollution, help cut waste disposal and handling costs, and go a long way toward protecting
human health and the environment.
Source reduction includes:
• Purchasing durable, long-lasting goods.
• Seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as possible.
• Redesigning products that use less raw material in production, have a longer life, can be used again after
original use, or can be recycled.
Reuse
Reusing items-by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them-also reduces
waste. Reusing products is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it
can be used again.
Some Ways to Reuse
• Use durable coffee mugs
• Refill bottles
• Donate old magazines or surplus
equipment
• Reuse boxes
Turn empty jars into containers for
leftover food
Purchase refillable pens and pencils
Participate in a paint collection and
reuse program
Recycle
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates
a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass, metal, plastics, paper, and organic
materials (food and green yard waste) are collected, separated, and sent to facilities that can process these
recyclables into new materials or products.
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Some Benefits of Recycling
• Conserves resources
• Saves energy
• Stimulates the development of
greener technologies
• Supplies valuable raw materials
• Reduces the need for new
landfills and incinerators
• Creates jobs
Buying Becycled
There is more to recycling than setting out recyclables at the curb. To make recycling economically feasible,
consumers must buy recycled products and packaging. Consumers "close the loop" when they purchase products
made from recycled materials.
Recycled-content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded. Items in this
category are made totally or partially from material destined for disposal or recovered from industrial activities - like
aluminum soda cans or newspaper. Recycled-content products also can be items that are rebuilt or remanufactured
from used products, such as toner cartridges or computers.
There are more than 4,500 recycled-content products available, and this number continues to grow. In fact, many
of the products people regularly purchase contain recycled-content.
Products That Can Be Made with Becycled-Content
Aluminum cans
Cereal boxes
Egg cartons
Motor oil
Nails
Trash bags
Comic books
Office paper
Newspapers
Paper towels
Carpeting
Car bumpers
Anything made from steel
Glass containers
Laundry detergent bottles
Plastic beverage bottles
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Composting
Another form of recycling is composting. Composting is the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter,
such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. Composting is nature's way of recycling organic
waste into new soil for vegetable and flower gardens, landscaping, and many other applications.
Some Benefits of Composting
• Provides nutrients to the soil
• Increases beneficial soil organisms
(e.g., worms and centipedes)
• Suppresses certain plant diseases
• Reduces the need for fertilizers
and pesticides
• Protects soils from erosion
• Assists pollution remediation
• Keeps organic wastes out of landfills
For More Information
More information on the 3Rs of solid waste management can be found in this guide in Section VI, Resources.
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III. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROMOTE THE 3RS IN
YOUR COMMUNITY
Many community-based organizations, leaders, and organizers across the country are already engaged in promoting
solid waste reduction activities to keep their communities clean and healthy. You can become one of them! You have
the local contacts and influence to promote Working Together for a Healthy Environment in your community.
You can promote the 3Rs of solid waste management in your community by:
• Increasing community awareness of the benefits of the 3Rs of solid waste management.
• Promoting community practices that include reducing, reusing, and recycling solid waste.
• Sharing knowledge/information about source reduction, waste prevention, and resource conservation
and their present and future importance.
• Organizing community outreach activities and events that promote the 3Rs of solid waste management.
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IV. GETTING IT TOGETHER
ORGANIZING YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT
Organizing is the first step in any successful strategy to effect change in a community.
The following information will help you succeed in implementing a local event to promote the 3Rs of solid waste
management. Remember that not all the steps may be relevant to your event or necessary for it to be successful.
It is also important to have clear objectives of what you want to accomplish during and as a result of the event.
Follow the steps that are most important or best suited to meet your objective.
Know Your Name a Leader and
Community Build an Action Team
Evaluate Results
Establish
COMMUNITY
Committees
ORGANIZING
Implement £|
Your Plan ^
Develop an
Action Plan
Identify and
Secure Partners
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To organize a community 3R event effectively, there are six important steps to consider:
) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY: This is an important step that helps identify community concerns.
As a community-based organization, leader, or activist, you are probably already familiar with most issues
affecting your community and have already earned the trust of your community. Pay particular attention to
the environmental practices (e.g., frequency of trash pickup) and issues (e.g., illegal trash disposal) that are
relevant to your community.
0 NAME A LEADER AND BUILD AN ACTION TEAM: Name a leader for the 3R event who
has strong community ties and is committed to getting the job done. The action team should consist of
community members who are willing to commit time, energy, and passion to the event and who will see it
through to get results.
© ESTABLISH COMMITTEES: Form committees, name committee heads, and assign responsibilities.
These might include: promotion and publicity; volunteers (crucial to any event); logistics (transportation,
parking); food and entertainment; security; setup, breakdown, and cleanup; sanitation; trash and recycling
collection; and technical assistance (solid waste education and awareness).
0 DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN: Once you have identified the members of your action team, hold
a meeting to agree on the nature of the event, to develop a timeline for when things should happen, and to
assign responsibilities. It's a good idea to develop an event objective, too, to guide the action team and keep
it focused. A sample campaign objective might be:
Objective
Raise awareness in our community by holding an event that promotes the 3Rs of solid
waste management: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The action plan should also include measurements that you establish and use to identify success and areas
for improvements. These measurements might include: the number of participants; the volume of waste
collected, including recyclables; the number of partners contacted/participated; the type and impact of pre-
event publicity; the number of requests for more information/follow-up.
0 IDENTIFY AND SECURE PARTNERS: Build a base of supporters that you can rely on during the
implementation phase. These can include volunteers, elected officials, and other partners. Their support can
range from providing letters of support to providing supplies (food) and services (free publicity, staffing during
the event). Be sure to tap into the corporate community! Stress that corporate support of your event can
provide an impressive and cost-effective opportunity to secure positive exposure in the community.
IMPLEMENT YOUR PLAN: Remember that the main focus of your event is to promote reducing,
reusing, and recycling solid waste. In implementing your plan, it is important to be flexible and willing to
make changes, if necessary.
© EVALUATE RESULTS: It is important to review and assess your event as soon as possible after it
occurs. Use the measurements you established in your action plan as a baseline. Make sure you get input
from your action team, attendees, partners, sponsors, and volunteers. Share your results with the local
authorities. Remember that maintaining a healthy and safe environment is always a "win-win" for
everyone in the community.
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PLANNING YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT
0 SELECT A VENUE AND DATE WISELY. Select an outdoor location with transportation in mind. It
should be easily accessible by public transportation; have sufficient parking for those who drive; have ingress/egress;
and be where food, a stage, exhibits, live entertainment, games, and a sound system are all permissible. Suggested
outdoor locations include public parks, public school grounds, local sports arenas, community centers with adequate
grounds, and a downtown area (if city and local merchants consent). Make sure you have plenty of room to
accommodate your expected turnout.
In choosing a date, be sure your event won't be in conflict with another community or local event, such as a major
sporting or church activity. Don't make people have to choose! However, you might want to schedule your event as
part of another related planned community/cultural event to maximize attendance.
0 CREATE A PLANNING TIMELINE. When you have selected a venue and date for your event, work
backward from the event day to create a timeline for completion of the various activities related to event execution.
0 ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE - BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE
EVENT! Securing TV and radio sponsorships will give you the free publicity you need to maximize turnout.
In turn, the media gets the opportunity to enhance its image, expand its audience, and reinforce audience
loyalty to build market share.
0 KEEP THE SITE CLEAN AND SANITARY! Have plenty of trash and recycling bins on-site. Label
them properly-paper, glass, plastic, metal/aluminum, food waste-to educate the public while ensuring the
grounds are left clean. Make sure you make the necessary arrangements to have the trash and recyclables
picked up and disposed of properly after the event.
Depending on the venue and the accessibility of
available lavatories, rent enough portable toilets to
accommodate the anticipated crowds.
0 PROVIDE FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT.
Create a festive atmosphere and ramp up excitement
for the event! Make the kickoff a celebration, complete
with entertainment, including: local bands, school
bands and choruses, school dance groups, and a radio
station live remote (with on-air personality/emcee to
serve as master of ceremonies).
Invite local restaurateurs, caterers, and food vendors to
set up food booths and sell food and/or give away promotional samples.
Set up rides and other activities for small children so that there will be something fun and educational for every
age group (tots, teens, young adults, parents, seniors) to ensure that your event has cross-generational interest
and impact.
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V. WHAT YOU CAN DO: EVENT IDEAS
WORKSHOPS
Your event may include one or more workshops on particular aspects of the 3Rs and how the
community may participate in sound solid waste management. The number, format, and content of
your workshops will require an understanding of your audience: who they are, their educational level,
and their awareness level of environmental issues. The more you understand your audience and tailor
your workshops to it, the more effective your workshops will be and the more your audiences will
learn, accept, and apply the principles of sound solid waste management. It is also important to identify
the objective for your workshop(s). The following is a sample.
Unlike an employment or home improvement workshop, your target audience may not understand how
Objective
Demonstrate how easy it is to make a difference in the environment by reducing, reusing, and
recycling solid waste at home, in the workplace, and in your community.
learning about and practicing waste prevention activities directly benefit them. Workshop promotion
must be compelling and meaningful. Advertise by using such headlines as:
Care About Your Kids
Protect the environment for them!
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Save money and conserve resources!
Developing Your Workshops
Format - You might want to consider
developing two workshops: a 30-minute
workshop for a more in-depth presentation
and one 15-minute workshop. These
workshops may be used as stand-alone events
or as an addition to some other event, such
as a local festival or neighborhood party. If
the workshops are part of a larger (e.g., a
community) event, repeat them during the
day, if possible, to maximize attendance.
Make sure your workshops contain a presentation/demonstration of how waste can be reduced in
the home and in the workplace; how to reuse packages, containers, boxes, and other items in new
and creative ways; and how to recycle paper, glass, plastic, metal, and lawn/yard clippings.
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Have enough handouts/brochures available for distribution to the audience on how they can make a
difference in waste prevention, why waste prevention matters, and where the nearest recycling,
composting, and buyback centers are. Speak with your local solid waste management authority; many
local governments provide speakers and handouts/brochures at no charge for these activities.
Funding - With corporate and media sponsorships, you may find that you can develop very
interactive, visually appealing, and/or fun workshops. This funding can help you pay for portable
displays, speakers, and handouts.
Corporate sponsors include local banks, supermarkets,
athletic goods stores, car and truck dealerships, and fast-food
chains. Media sponsors, in particular, can help you publicize
the workshops (as stand-alone events or as part of a larger
community event) through local TV and radio stations,
newspapers, and magazines. Offer the sponsors an "Official
Sponsor" status on all promotional materials. Distribute
decals (for restaurant, retail, and merchant windows) to all
businesses, organizations, schools, and other venues that
support or even host 3Rs workshops.
Turn Trash Into Cash!
Getting People There - Provide incentives for people to
attend the workshops. These incentives might include:
• Discount coupons for completing the workshop (good toward
the purchase of goods or services from a corporate sponsor)
• 3Rs diplomas to everyone who completes the workshop
• Vehicle bumper stickers for all "graduates"
Traveling Workshop Venues - If you decide to take your workshop "on the road," consider
having a portable display unit. This will eliminate the need of having to worry about the availability of
adequate equipment on-site.
Consider the following venues for your workshops:
Schools Adult Ed/Vocational Centers
Community Centers Senior Centers
Service Clubs Chambers of Commerce
Civic Groups Homeowners' Associations
Retail Malls
Church Groups
Local Employers
Apartment/Condominium
meetings
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RADIO STATION ACTIVITIES
Encourage your local radio stations to support and promote safe and effective solid waste management by:
• Kicking off every morning-drive and/or evening-drive segment with a 3Rs tip of the day, particularly if
you are holding a community event.
• Sponsoring a park, beach, highway, or neighborhood cleanup and recycling event spearheaded by
the station's on-air personalities.
• Holding a "3Rs Public Service Campaign" contest. Ask listeners to submit a 30-second Public Service
Announcement (PSA) about how everyone can reduce waste by recycling bottles, cans, paper, plastic, and
how to reuse items to reduce the amount of disposable solid waste. The best PSA submitted each week or
month would be produced by the station and voiced by the author. The winners might be awarded concert
or sporting event tickets, a family day at a local theme park, movie tickets, or gift certificates. Secure the
prizes from station advertisers in exchange for on-air promotion as a proud sponsor of Working
Together for a Healthy Environment.
• Challenging listeners to come up with the most "Creative Reuse" of an item. Ask listeners to submit
to the station their most inventive ideas for turning an item earmarked for disposal into an item with an
entirely new use. Award prizes, securing them from station advertisers in exchange for promotional
consideration as a proud sponsor of Working Together for a Healthy Environment.
• Promoting a children's Recycling Hero contest held over a period of several months, with ongoing on-air
marketing. The Recycling Hero would be the child who implements the ongoing recycling program with
the most impact. Each participant would have a sponsoring teacher, who would nominate that youngster
to be named the station's Recycling Hero. Award the winner a proclamation from the mayor or other
community official, honoring his or her innovation and dedication to saving our environment for future
generations of children or even a US Savings Bond.
• Sponsoring a "Mad Dash for Cans." Give families, clubs, schools, and organizations a designated time to
deliver their cans to a collection location (e.g. parking lot) to be weighed. (Make sure the station makes the
appropriate arrangements to have the cans picked up!) The winning group might be awarded free movie
tickets, gift certificates or other prizes donated by a station advertiser in exchange for on-air promotion as a
"Mad Dash for Cans" sponsor.
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KIDS FOR A GREEN TOMORROW COMMUNITY CLEANUP CAMPAIGN
A Kids For A Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign, for middle and high school students
in grades 6-12, can reinforce neighborhood pride and establish a very real connection between waste
prevention and the quality of life. This campaign can be conducted separately or as part of a larger
"green schools" campaign that may be run by the local school district, county, or state.
Supporting a community campaign by adding a schools campaign will likely increase your effectiveness
and make a bigger impact on your local environment. Cleaning up a very visible public area, made
possible by broader campaign participation, will reinforce neighborhood pride and bring home the very
real connection between waste prevention and quality of life.
As with your community event and/or workshops, you should establish a campaign objective, such as:
Objective
Educate youth about the serious consequences of environmental degradation, with the goal of sowing the seeds
of environmental consciousness at an early age.
Developing Your Campaign
Present Your Proposal and Obtain School Support - First and foremost, present your school
administrators with a proposal for a Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign. Their
support is necessary to achieve your objective.
Explain that the activity is designed to provide a hands-on experience that demonstrates how
applying the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) to real life situations can derive very positive health and
environmental results, and would engage the youth as environmental stewards.
Your proposal should also contain measures for evaluating the success of the campaign. These measures can
include pounds of waste collected, number of collection bins filled, and revenue generated by the recyclables.
Assemble An Organizing Team - After getting the go-ahead from the appropriate school
authorities, assemble an organizing team. Team members should include earth science, biology, health,
civics, social studies, and home economics teachers, as well as the school's facility managers. Have the
team name a leader who will make sure things get done and who will act as a liaison between your
community group and the school.
Create Subcommittees - Recommend that the organizing team create subcommittees to address such
activities as promotion and publicity; setup and transportation to the selected venue; collection of trash and
recyclables; and obtaining giveaways (e.g., T-shirts, awards), supplies (gloves, bags), and water for participants.
It is important to ensure that medical assistance (e.g., a nurse) is available should the need arise.
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Select a Venue - Select a large public area that is in need of cleanup. Choose a public park,
playground, downtown commercial center, beachfront, or other locale, taking into consideration:
• Accessibility (by private and public transportation for the youngsters, teachers, and parent volunteers,
and by solid waste management and recycling trucks that will be picking up the trash and recyclables)
• Visibility (to make a statement, select a location that is highly visible and central to the life of the
community)
• Traffic and safety
Scheduling and Logistics - Pick a cleanup date. Saturday mornings usually work best because they
don't interfere with normal school hours or the workday of parents and other volunteers.
Make necessary transportation arrangements using public transportation or licensed volunteer drivers.
Instruct all youngsters and volunteers to arrive properly dressed in long sleeves, long pants, socks, and
rubber-soled shoes, with gloves and hats if sun protection is necessary.
Inform your local solid waste management authority about your plans. Arrange for the collection,
disposal and/or recycling of the materials collected during the event. Make sure there are sufficient—
and clearly marked — disposal and recycling containers at the venue.
Secure Funding - Corporate, community, and media sponsors can help defray out-of-pocket costs
that may not be covered by revenue generated by the collection of the recyclables. These sponsors can
include local businesses and merchants, service clubs, civic or church groups, area supermarkets, local
TV and radio stations, newspapers, and magazines.
You will need funding for such items as:
• Transporting youngsters to the cleanup site
• Permits for street closings and/or public gathering, if necessary
• Off-duty police for crowd control, if necessary
• Supplies and equipment (bags, gloves, goggles)
• Insurance, if necessary
• Publicity and promotion
• Commemorative T-shirts and certificates
• Photography and prints
• Packaged snacks and/or water to be distributed to the children after the cleanup
Offer your sponsors promotional consideration in exchange for sponsorship (on T-shirts and in press
releases). Give sponsors official Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign
sponsor status to use in advertising, public relations, and corporate promotional materials.
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Get the Message Out - Send out a "Media Alert" in advance of the cleanup and follow-up with a
phone call the day before the event to the newspaper, TV, and radio (news format) assignment desks to
promote live coverage for the Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign.
Develop a Schedule - Make sure the schedule you develop is realistic and flexible. Solicit input from
your kids; a sense of ownership is important to ensure success! The following is a sample schedule.
Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign
8:uuam - 2:uupm - Chicago, Illinois
8:00am-8:30am: Set-Up
Volunteers place clearly marked recycling containers, trash bins, and supplies (trash bags,
gloves, bottled water) at strategic locations throughout the designated cleanup area.
8:30am-9:00am: Participants Gather At Staging Area
Form teams and assign cleanup areas by class or grade. Give clear instructions on how to
conduct the clean up. Each team (6-8 students) should have an adult chaperone/volunteer
with a cell phone and first aid kit in case of an emergency.
9:00am-ll:00am: Conduct Cleanup
11:00am-12:00am: Recognition and Awards At Staging Area
Have a school official on hand to commend the students for their achievement and hand out
certificates to participants. You may want to take photos of the award ceremony for the school or
community newspaper. Make sure you have parental permission to take and publish the photos!
After the event, make sure ALL the trash and recyclables are collected by your local solid waste
management company and transported off site! Measure your success using the measures established
in your project proposal.
Ensuring Success
Before Your Event - Leading up to the cleanup, work with teachers and local solid waste
management administrators to stage a series of educational events that make resource conservation
and waste prevention interesting and meaningful to the children. Emphasize how and why reducing,
reusing, and recycling solid waste benefit everyone by:
• Preventing pollution
• Saving energy
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• Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions
• Conserving natural resources
• Reducing the cost of disposal
• Helping to keep our streets, neighborhoods, and communities safe, healthy, and more beautiful
• Helping to sustain the environment for future generations
An in-school educational campaign before the event may consist of one or more of the following activities:
• Hold a competition to design a Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign T-shirt.
Announce the winner at a school assembly and award a gift certificate donated by an area merchant.
Send the photo along with an announcement of the event to your local media (newspapers, TV, and radio
stations). Again, make sure you have the parents' permission to publish the photos.
• Have the students create their own student handouts addressing the following:
• how they can make a difference in the environment
• why waste prevention matters
• how practicing the 3Rs can help the environment
• Hold discussions with the students on how and why reducing, reusing, and recycling waste benefits
everyone. This can be done in the classroom, as part of the science curriculum, or during a special
assembly to which parents are invited.
As an information source, use the EPA Office of Solid Waste's educational materials, video, pamphlets,
and downloadable literature available at www.epa.gov/osw.
After Your Event - Take your Kids for a Green Tomorrow Campaign out to other schools or the
entire school district. Suggest to the school board that it officially designate participating schools as
Kids for a Green Tomorrow Schools of Excellence with banners that are publicly displayed. You
might also want to:
• Encourage students to present their own Kids for a Green Tomorrow Campaign projects for a science
fair competition.
• Arrange for the hours spent on the campaign to count toward student service learning hours, as
appropriate.
• Arrange for student guest appearances on local TV and radio stations promoting the Kids for a Green
Tomorrow Campaign and making "reduce, reuse, and recycle" a household phrase familiar to youngsters
and adults throughout the community.
• Send out post-event press releases and photos to keep the campaign and the 3Rs in the media and before
the public eye.
• Establish a goal for each successive Kids for a Green Tomorrow Community Cleanup Campaign,
setting the bar higher each time. Mount a wall-sized chart in the school cafeteria illustrating the success
of the initiative by tracking the amount of trash and recyclables collected over the course of the year. This
will help sustain a high level of interest and maintain momentum.
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VI. RESOURCES
SAMPLE LETTERS TO MAKE YOUR CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL
This section includes sample letters for you to send to local community leaders, city council/county
commission members, faith-based organizations, and editors of local newspapers and radio stations,
asking for support of your event.
A. Letter Urging Community Leaders to Support
the Healthy Environment Campaign
R. City Council/County Commission Letter
C. Letter to the Editor
D. Letter to Radio Station
E. Faith-Rased Letter
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A. LETTER URGING COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT CAMPAIGN
Dear :
As of Organization's Name>, I am asking for your support in promoting the 3Rs
of solid waste management—reduce, reuse, and recycle —to safeguard the environment
in our community. The goal of Working Together for a Healthy Environment is to
clean up our urban and rural neighborhoods and make them healthier and more
appealing places in which to live, work, and play. We support this goal and hope that
you do as well.
Did you know that that almost 230 million tons of municipal solid waste or trash are
generated in this country annually? That means each of us is responsible for an average
of 4.5 pounds of solid waste per day. We want America's multi-cultural communities to
take a leading role in the development of an "environmental conscience" and help
reduce this waste through reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Please join me in supporting this all-important initiative. Where to start? Write letters
to the editors of your local newspapers and magazines. In these letters, urge the editors
to lend their influential voices to Working Together for a Healthy Environment.
The following is a template Letter to the Editor, designed to be used as a starting point.
Incorporate your own professional knowledge, personal experience and individual
thoughts on the need to preserve the environment for future generations by promoting
the 3Rs of solid waste management.
As a community leader, you have the credibility and influence to help make a difference.
If you set the example, others will surely follow.
For information on the 3Rs, including outreach materials for distribution, please don't
hesitate to contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX or visit the United States Environmental Protection
Agency's Office of Solid Waste web site at www.epa.gov/osw.
On behalf of <name of organization^ thank you for supporting Working Together for
a Healthy Environment. Please help us share this important message with our community.
Sincerely,
<Head of Organization's Name>
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</pre><hr><pre>
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B. CITY COUNCIL/COUNTY COMMISSION LETTER
Dear <Council member/Commissioner>:
As <title> of <Name of Community Organization^ I am asking for your support in
promoting the 3Rs of solid waste management—reduce, reuse, and recycle—to
safeguard the environment in our multi-cultural community. The goal of Working
Together for a Healthy Environment is to clean up distressed urban and rural
neighborhoods and make them healthier and more appealing places to live, work,
and play. We support this goal and hope that you will as well.
Did you know that almost 230 million tons of municipal solid waste or trash are
generated in this country annually? That means each of us is responsible for an average
of 4.5 pounds of solid waste per day. We want America's multi-cultural communities to
take a leading role in the development of an "environmental conscience" and help
reduce this waste through reduce, reuse, and recycle.
As a community leader, you have the power, as well as the responsibility, to support
Working Together for a Healthy Environment. Where to start? Join cities and
counties across our nation in publically supporting this initiative. Doing so will make
both your constituencies and the media aware of the priority you place on the
3Rs of solid waste.
Thank you for supporting Working Together for a Healthy Environment. Please help
us share this important message with our community.
Sincerely,
<Head of Community Organization>
Your Town, USA
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C. LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear <Editor>:
Did you know that almost 230 million tons of municipal solid waste or garbage are
generated in this country annually? That means each of us is responsible for an average
of 4.5 pounds of solid waste per day! Are you also aware that recycling results in energy
savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions?
These are staggering statistics! They underscore the need for waste reduction and
recycling, while graphically illustrating the great strides that can easily be made to
reverse the toll taken by environmental degradation.
I would like to see America's growing multi-cultural communities take a leading role in
the development of an "environmental conscience" because...
• Trash can turn neighborhoods into unsightly places to live, work, and play.
• The rising cost of trash pickup and disposal raises all our taxes and diverts money
from vital programs supporting public education, health, recreation, and the arts.
• Environmental degradation and its resulting pollution breed unhealthy conditions
that are already leading to a rise in the rate of children and adults afflicted with
asthma and other respiratory diseases.
The media has the power and, indeed, the responsibility to bring the message home in
a way that will resonate with your readership and serve as a community-wide call to action.
So, I am asking you to educate your readership on responsible solid waste management and
support an outreach education and awareness program called Working Together for a
Healthy Environment.
As <title> of <Name of Community Organization^ I'm asking that you please give this
vital program the news coverage it needs and deserves. For more information on waste
minimization and recycling, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's
Office of Solid Waste Web site at www.epa.gov/osw.
On behalf of <Name of Community Organization^ thank you for supporting Working
Together for a Healthy Environment. As a long-time subscriber to your publication, I
am sure that you will help us share this very important message with our community.
Sincerely,
<Head of Organization's Name>
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D. LETTER TO RADIO STATION
Dear <Programming Directors
As head of <Name of Organization^ I am asking for your support in promoting the 3Rs
of solid waste management—reduce, reuse, and recycle —to safeguard the environment
in our Hispanic/Latino community. Called Working Together for a Healthy Environment,
the goal of the campaign is to clean up our rural and inner-city neighborhoods and make
them healthier, more appealing places to live, work, and play by promoting the 3Rs of
solid waste management.
Did you know that almost 230 million tons of municipal solid waste or garbage are generated
in this country annually? That means each of us is responsible for an average of 4.5 pounds of
solid waste per day. This is a staggering statistic and we would like to encourage America's
Hispanic/Latino population to take a leading role in the development of an "environmental
conscience" by making reduce, reuse, and recycle a part of their daily lives.
Only Spanish-language radio has the power to bring our message into homes, offices,
factories, parks and playgrounds in a meaningful way. That is why it is so important
that your station become a partner of Working Together for a Healthy Environment.
Your news broadcasts, while introducing songs, as the focus of talk or public service
programming—all provide ideal opportunities to address the 3Rs of solid waste. Why get
involved? Because responsible solid waste management improves the lives of our families
and the nature of our communities.
Nobody knows your audience better than you do, which is why <Name of Organization is
counting on your support. We have enclosed some programming, news, public service, and
contest suggestions as a starting point, and you'll undoubtedly have exciting ideas of your own.
For information on the 3Rs of solid waste management, including brochures for
distribution, please do not hesitate to call me directly at XXX-XXX-XXXX, or visit the
United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste Web site at
www.epa.gov/osw.
On behalf of <Name of Organization^ thank you for supporting Working Together
for a Healthy Environment. Please help us share this important message with the
Hispanic/Latino community.
Sincerely,
<Head of Organization's Name>
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FAITH-BASED LETTER
Dear <Head of Church/Faith-Based Organizations
As head of <Name of Community Organization^ I am asking for your support in
promoting the 3Rs of solid waste management—reduce, reuse, and recycle—to
safeguard the environment in our community. The goal of Working Together for a
Healthy Environment is to clean up our urban and rural neighborhoods and make
them healthier and more appealing places to live, work, and play. We support this goal
and hope that you will as well.
Did you know that almost 230 million tons of municipal solid waste or trash are
generated in this country annually? That means each of us is responsible for an average
of 4.5 pounds of solid waste per day. We want America's multi-cultural communities to
take a leading role in the development of an "environmental conscience" and help
reduce this waste through reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Spread the word about the 3Rs in your sermons, religious education classes, childcare
centers, community centers, and organizational newsletters. Remember, environmental
degradation takes a devastating toll on families, the economy, and public health and
safety, undermining the quality of life on our streets and throughout our neighborhoods.
Please join us in making Working Together for a Healthy Environment a success.
Nobody knows your congregation better than you do; that is why we are counting on
your support. For information on waste minimization and recycling, including brochures
for distribution, please don't hesitate to call me directly at XXX-XXX-XXXX or visit the
United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste web site at
at www.epa.gov/osw.
On behalf of <Name of Community Organization^ thank you for lending your support
to Working Together for a Healthy Environment. Please help us share this important
message with your community.
Sincerely,
<Head of Community Organization>
21
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PUBLICATIONS
EPA can provide a wealth of free, informational materials that you can use to increase knowledge and
understanding of solid waste issues, promote environmental awareness, and inspire participation in
environmental activities among community members.
These materials can be found at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/publicat.htm
Many of these publications are available in Spanish. This site also provides ordering information.
WEB LINKS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov
EPA Office of Solid Waste
www.epa.gov/osw
EPA Office of Solid Waste - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/reduce.htm
EPA Office of Solid Waste - Educational Resources
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/index.htm
EPA Office of Solid Waste - Recycle on the Go
www.epa.gov/recycleonthego
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NOTES
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&EPA
United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response
Agency (5305P)
EPA530-K-06-008
July 2007
www.epa.gov/osw
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