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WasteCare Corporation
WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING TIPS
FOR
EDUCATION FACILITIES, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES
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Schools as well as colleges and universities tend to be small cities that generate large amounts of solid waste. Whether a school has an extensive waste management program or is just getting recycling collection off the ground, studies have shown that virtually all schools have the potential to better reduce and dispose of their resources.
Whether you are a school administrator concerned about increasing solid waste disposal costs, or a recycling-conscientious student, setting up or improving an existing school recycling program can be a learning experience for all involved.
Recycling Tips:
As a result of a school recycling program, you will find that recyclables are being diverted from the environmental waste stream for your city or town. This should allow schools to reduce the size of waste collection dumpsters or frequency of pickups. By doing this the school and district can save money.
- Obtain top level support from school or university administration, involve the custodial staff from the beginning, and educate all participants in the program.
- Find a local market, drop-off center, recycling service company, or a waste hauler that offers recycling services.
- Evaluate which recyclables are generated in different locations of the school in order to determine the best recycling bin locations.
- Administrative offices - high grade office paper, computer paper, cardboard, toner cartridges.
- Classrooms - mixed paper and in some schools bottles and cans.
- Cafeteria - cardboard, steel cans, aluminum cans, bottles, and plastics.
- Library - paper, magazines, books, and newspaper.
- Vending areas - aluminum, glass and plastic containers.
- Make sure recycling bins are well marked to ensure they will receive the intended recyclable material. Consider restricted openings on lids to cut down on contamination by trash or other materials. (slots for paper and round holes for bottles and cans). Locate the bins close to trash containers in order to make the choice to recycle easy for students, teachers and staff.
- Work with your janitors and custodial staff to create a collection system that is manageable. Adding recyclables to a collection does not increase the amount of material generated. If not properly managed, recyclables will find their way back into the trash.
- Participate in RecycleMania. Recyclemania is a friendly competition among university recycling programs in the US. During the 10-week period from late-January to early-April, schools compete to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables from residence halls, on-campus apartments and dining halls. Schools report measurements on a weekly basis in pounds recycled per student living on campus. RecycleMania provides students with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction. For more details about the competition visit www.recyclemaniacs.org.
Waste Reduction Tips
Waste reduction planning should include a waste audit to determine waste composition and volume; the point of origin; what portion could be recycled, re-used, reduced or eliminated; and what recyclable/reusable materials could be substituted for materials currently in use. Audited areas can include offices, classrooms, cafeterias, lounges, vending machine areas, boiler rooms, maintenance areas, storage areas and dormitories.
- Organize a coordination team. Involve students, parents, teachers, custodial staff, local solid waste or public works departments and community representatives.
- Perform a Waste Composition Study and categorize the trash to determine what waste can be minimized or recycled. Use the results of the audit to help create a specific recycling program.
- Identify a local market for recyclables. Contact local recycling facilities to see what materials they collect and what services they provide. Be sure to find out how recyclables should be separated and what items can be commingled.
- Work out a budget for the collection program. Obtain money from the school budget, PTA fundraising or partnerships with local businesses or civic groups. Recycling should reduce the school’s waste stream, so look into reducing the frequency of trash pick-ups and allocating those savings towards the pick-up of recyclables.
- Educate the school and the community about the program. Inform all school personnel, students, parents and the community how the program will work. Let everyone know what can and cannot be recycled.
- Reward the doers. Let students know that a cleaner environment is a prize they can all enjoy. Other incentives can be given to students and classes who participate, such as field trips to a material recovery facility or a landfill and RE3.org or Recycle Guys t-shirts, stickers or posters.
Education is the key. Inform staff, students, teachers and families on your recycling program by using the school newspaper, posters, web page, e-mail, school handbook, and student orientation. Educate and update students and staff on the progress of the recycling program to demonstrate their contribution to improving the environment.
The creation of an ongoing educational program for schools, colleges and universities to recognize the value of waste reduction and recycling is important. Education systems provide a learning experience to students to incorporate recycling in their lives forever. Significant costs savings can be seen by schools as well. If recycling is implemented properly for every school in the district, the savings can be significant.