Recycling at School
This webpage will help
public school systems to develop a recycling program. Although
geared to elementary or high schools, much of the information can be
adapted for private schools, colleges and universities. If you
are trying to develop a program at your school, contact MassRecycle
through the Ask the Staff form and we can
assist you.
What
type of paper can my school recycle?
- Booklets
- Books - hard and soft cover
- Boxes - for office supplies
- Boxes - cereal, shoe, cracker, pasta, etc
- Brochures
- Calendars - wall type
- Cardboard - corrugated & paperboard
- Catalogs
- Clasp envelopes
- Colored paper
- Cover and card stock, index cards
- Envelopes -with plastic windows or labels
- File folders
- Glossy paper
- Hanging file folders
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- Letters
- Mail -including junk mail
- Magazines
- Newspaper
- Office and copy paper - white or colored
- Packing paper
- Paper - lined, white or colored
- Paper - fax
- Pamphlets
- Phone books
- Photocopies
- Shredding paper - loose or paper bags
- Stationery -white or colored
- Writing tablets
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Remember: You don't
need to remove staples, paper clips, tape, spirals
or windows from your paper prior to recycling.
How
can I get my school to recycle?
Step 1:
Get top level support.
1a.
It is suggested that you have
the superintendent and principal in support of the program.
1b.
Some
successful school program started with the School Committee. The
School Committee is an elected body and most people know at least one
School Committee member.
1c.
It is also critical to get the building maintenance supervisor on board
at this time. You may need to help him/her getting the
maintenance employees on board and explain why recycling is important.
1d.
Due to education reform, parent advisory groups are very active.
They are respected and can get their foot in the door pretty
fast. They may be able to assist in reciving top level
support. They should also be able to help with implementation.
HELPFUL
HINT: You may need to get everyone above to realize the cost savings of
recycling first. One estimate
recieved by MassRecycle is a cost savings of $7,000 per year.
School officials and employees will be more motivated by money than the
environmental benefits.
Savings means possible increases for other things (i.e. wages, etc)
while money is tight.
Step 2. Some
schools have worked with the School Committee to establish a policy
that
recycling will be done across the
schools. See example below from the Town of Tyngsborough.
The School District will
comply with the program established by the Town/City of
_____________________ which mandates the separation of recyclables from
the solid waste stream.
Procedure
Each school across the
district will work to ensure recyclable materials are separated from
solid waste in all classrooms and common areas (including fields and
grounds).
- Every garbage can put out
for public use will have a clearly labeled recycling container next to
it.
- Each school will work
toward having a team of teacher(s) and students to design, improve, and
carry out a program for ensuring recyclable materials are kept separate
from solid waste throughout their schools. These teams will seek
the support of Board of Health's Recycling Committee/Recycling
Coordinator/Department of Public Works.
- The Food Service Vendor
will work with the Board of Health's Recycling Committee/Recycling
Coordinator/Department of Public Works to verify and continually
improve their recycling efforts.
- All users of school
facilities will be informed of this policy and must be sure recyclables
are not mixed with solid waste during their use of the school buildings
and grounds.
Step 3:
Join the Green Team. The
Green Team Program is a FREE one-stop
resource developed by
MassDEP. This web-based
program helps teachers, students and school administrators learn about,
participate in, start or improve school recycling programs.
The Green Team provides:
- "How-to" recycling information for schools
- A kit containing lesson plans, activities, posters,
achievement stickers, teacher response forms, sample press release
& magnets
- Clean air and energy conservation lessons (they are
in the process of adding climate change components). Curricula
and activities align with MA Department of Education curriculum
frameworks in
math, English, and science.
- Recycling equipment
- Certificates of Recognition, awards and prizes to
participating classrooms. Click here for past
winners.
- Much more!!
Step 4: Form a Recycling
Team. A
team approach can be an efficient way to involve custodial staff and
students and decrease the
workload for any individual person or department. Science
teachers have typically been a part of recycling teams in other schools
with successful recycling programs. Student who need community
service points or volunteer hours can be helpful. Teams can
determine placement of recycling containers, ensure consistent
availability of recycling containers, request more containers and/or
signage, advertise recycling success (via school newspaper, bulletin
boards), coordinate a school waste survey and collect the recyclables.
Step 5: Conduct a waste survey to
determine the best and most efficient collection and recycling options
and provide essential information for conversations with your current
waste service provider or a new service provider.
Step 6: Contact
your community's Recycling
Coordinator to
see what they can offer for assistance
and/or
services.
Your community may be able to provide:
- Collection of recyclables,
- Collection containers for free or
at reduced
cost,
- Labels and signage for free or
at reduced cost, or
- Technical assistance, such as a
waste survey or finding a new waste service provider.
Step 7: Talk to a recycling
service provider.
Recycling through a vendor (aka "hauler", "waste service provider",
"recycler") does cost money. Typically, they charge per
pick up and/or rental for collection containers (aka "toters" or "roll
offs".)
The questions listed below may help you in your conversations with a
potential recycling service provider.
- What types of material does the recycling service
provider accept for recycling? Are these the same materials that
you are looking to recycle? Be as specific as possible.
- How should the recyclables be prepared for
collection? Is there a minimum quantity requirement for pick up?
- Will they provide collection containers and/or
dumpsters for recyclables? Do they provide a slotted dumpster for
cardboard? Do these cost extra?
- What would be the collection frequency and estimated
costs for the amount of recyclable materials from your company?
Will this cost vary depending on which materials you choose to recycle?
- Does the recycling service provider require a
contract, or is it an informal arrangement?
- Can you negotiate an "on call" pick up for waste
collection? Now that you will be generating less waste, will you
see a decrease in your current disposal costs?
Step 8: Develop a budget.
Setting up and operating a recycling program costs money. 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, equipment, transportation and/or
pick up of materials, rental of collection containers, and advertising.
HELPFUL HINT: You may be currently
be paying for trash services.
However, recycling should reduce your trash tonnage, thus
reducing the
frequency of trash pick ups or reducing the size of your trash dumpster
can off set the cost to recycling. You might need to be
savvy in discussing services with your waste service provider. These
costs can sometimes recovered from your reuse and recycling revenues.
Step 9: 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 recyclable
materials at school, you'll need ample storage space with truck
access.
Step 10: Secure collection
containers and labels.
You need collection containers (indoor and outdoor) and signage.
Make sure recycling is made easy by labeling
containers. MassRecycle sells bumper sticker sized labels. You
can find indoor bins, containers or "slim jims" at Home Depot, Staples,
and/or
Office Max. Determine if it is cheaper to purchase (rather than
rent) outdoor recycling collection container (aka toters or wheeled
carts); check out Toter, Inc.
or SCLA -1.
Step
11: Educate your school, students, and teachers about the
recycling program. You should explain how it will run, and when
and where collections will occur.
- Make a brief
presentation or initiate a discussion about recycling at a staff or
faculty meeting,
- Send flyers home
with students to inform parents and others of program specifics,
- Display posters,
- Make
announcements,
- Consider having a
special assembly or presentation to kick off the program, and
- Send press
releases to local newspapers.
Step
12: Set recycling 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. Learn to calculate (even estimate) how your recycling
is reducing your trash. Ask the custodians to check the trash
before pick up - is it half full? Less than half full?
Where
can I find a recycling vendor for my school?
Earth 911
To find a recycling
waste hauler, recycler, etc enter your
zip code.
Recycling
Services Directory
WasteCap of
Massachusetts developed this online searchable directory
that enables businesses to find vendors who accept, collect, or
purchase recyclable materials.
Are
there award programs for a successful school recycling programs?
MassRecycle's Green Bin Awards
At MassRecycle's Awards Celebration each October we recognize
outstanding achievements in and contributions to recycling and source
reduction in Massachusetts.
Hot Links
Alameda
County, California School Recycling Resources ~ For Elementary
& High Schools
Cambridge,
Massachusetts School Recycling Program
(Click on Schools) ~ For Elementary & High Schools
CIWMB's
School Waste Reduction ~ For Elementary & High Schools
CET's
Composting in Restaurants and Schools (PDF) ~ For Elementary &
High Schools
EPA's Reuse
& Recycling = Waste Reduction: A Guide for Schools & Groups
(PDF) ~ For Elementary & High Schools
MassDEP's
Kids and Teachers Waste Reduction Assistance
MassDEP's Manual
for Implementing School Recycling Programs (DOC) ~ For
Elementary & High Schools
MassDEP's
The Green
Team
MassRecycle's
Environmental
Tips for your School
MIT's Virtual
Campus ~ For Colleges & Universities
MN OEA's
Creating Less Trash at School ~ For Elementary & High Schools
Recycling:
at school
A resource
for recycling more at the office by the Paper Industry
Association Council.
MassRecycle,
Inc. provides this link page as a service to users of this site. There
is no actual or implied endorsement of any company or organization
listed above nor does the MassRecycle, Inc. warranty the accuracy of
any information on linked sites. MassRecycle, Inc. is not liable
for any loss or injury caused by accessing linked websites.
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