Title: Mecklenburg County School Recycling Program
1Mecklenburg County School Recycling Program
2- Why Did the County Become Involved?
- 1997 Solid Waste Management Plan
- organizations with commercial
waste-includingschools, and government
agencies---called upon to reduce the amount of
waste disposed. Government and schools are
targeted to lead the way.
3- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Waste
Contract History
- Before 1998-99 school year, garbage contract
managed by school purchasing department - Before 1998-99 school year, 10-12 schools had
recycling programs
4Recycling Program Development
- Reviewed CMS waste contract and hauling records
- Interviewed key staff at 10 schools
- Monitored waste collection services at 10 schools
to determine if level of service was correct - Findings- No consistent level of trash collection
service based on school population needs
5- Types quantities of recyclables in waste stream
- 3 School levels
- High School-35
- Middle School-40
- Elementary-25
6- Recycling dumpster provided for collection
- Materials Collected cardboard, mixed paper,
aluminum/steel cans, plastic bottles
7- SW approached Park Recreation, County Building
and Grounds, CPCC and CMS about combining solid
waste services. - A commingled fiber recycling program was included
in the solid waste services proposed
8- Sent out an RFP for solid waste/recycling service
- Prices came back favorable
9Interlocal Agreement
- In 1998, Mecklenburg County and CMS, signed an
Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste and
Recycling Collection Services. This allowed the
County and CMS to consolidate their collection
services and achieve a greater scale of economics.
10- Recycling Program
- Implementation Process
- Implementation began September 1998-Targeted
completion March 1999 - Memo from assistant superintendent sent to all
principals - County Recycling Team
- Coordinate meetings with schools
- Distribute materials
- Coordinate delivery of recycling dumpster
- Troubleshoot problems
11- Recycling Program
- Implementation Process
- Recycling supplies provided by the County
- Signs and locks for dumpsters
- Curriculum
- Posters
- Collection containers
-
12Do Recycle
- Notebook paper
- Fax paper
- Computer/copy paper
- White colored paper
- Legal pads
- Construction paper
- Stapled paper
- File folders
- Drawing paper
- Envelopes
- Post-it notes
- Brochures
- Index cards
- Catalogs
- Newspapers
- Phonebooks
- Magazines
- Flattened cardboard
- Paperboard
13Dont Recycle
- Pizza Boxes
- Waxed Cardboard
- Pencil Shavings
- Rubber Bands
- Napkins
- Paper towels
- Hardbound Books
- Tissues
- Text Books
- Paper cups
142003-04 CMS Facts
- 25th Largest School system in the US
- 113,859 Students
- 145 Total Schools
- 88 Elementary Schools
- 29 Middle Schools
- 17 High Schools
- 11 Special Programs
15Ordinance
- Mecklenburg County has a Recycling Ordinance that
requires schools that generate 16 cubic yards
(approximately two 8-yard dumpsters) of trash per
week to keep cardboard and paper out of their
trash dumpster. A school can be fined if it is
not in compliance with the Recycling Ordinance.
16- Mecklenburg County Recycling Department can
provide CMS with - Educational flyers
- Recycling signs posters
- Recycling containers
- Recommendations on placement of containers
- Mecklenburg County provides a hotline to report
problems and a 24-hour cure for missed pickups. -
Cost Of Containers Deskside 2.79 12 Gallon
3.56 16 Gallon 3.72 Rollout 34.00
17Educational Materials Available
- Custodian Fact Sheet
- Student Fact Sheet
- Recycling Team Fact Sheet
- Cafeteria Recycling Fact Sheet
- Middle School Activity Book
- High School Activity Book
18- Recycle Fundraiser Program
The fundraiser program is designed for an
organization to collect and recycle used empty
Inkjet and Laser printer cartridges from your
participants home or parents office computer.
Instead of discarding these plastic cartridges in
the trash, which eventually end up in our
landfills, we encourage the use of recycling them
for cash, payable to your organization. For more
information, please log on toSortRecycleSave.char
meck.org
19- Current Status of Recycling Program Implementation
- All schools have recycling system in place
- In 2002-03 school year, CMS recycled 1590 tons
- 2001-02, 1088 tons
- 2000-01, 992 tons
- 1999-2000, 585 tons
20Education Center
- Mecklenburg County has a state of the art
education center. It is located at the Countys
MRF. - Approximately 10,000 people tour the MRF and
visit the education center each year
21Budget for School Program
- FY 2001/02 Solid Waste
- Print 2000
- Promo 9000
- Containers 4500
- FY 2002/03 Solid Waste Budget
- Print 2000
- Promo 9000
- Containers 2400
- FY 2003/04 Solid Waste Budget
- Promo 11,000
- Containers 5400
- Temp 6000
22McKee Road Elementary has been recycling for four
years. A special programs teacher serves as the
Recycling Coordinator. To get the recycling
program started, the Recycling Coordinator placed
collection containers throughout the school,
enlisted collection support and promoted the
program by integrating it into existing
curriculums. Their approach has worked well for
the past four years and all areas of the school
participate.
23Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School has been
recycling for three years. A school club
collects the recyclables from the school except
the cafeteria, where cafeteria staff place
flattened cardboard in the recycling dumpster.
Recycling crew members are paid microbucks
which can be spent at the school store. Irwin
Avenue Elementary promotes recycling by
periodically making recycling announcements on
the public address system and placing notices in
the school newspaper.
24Additional Marketing Tools
Revised Logo The Wipe Out Waste Logo and Tagline
has been revised to the following. The graphic
illustrates the act of recycling and the
correlation with the environment. The new tagline
incorporates the formula of recycling
SortRecycleSave.charmeck.org
25- Internet
- Banner ads were used to drive the public to
specific flash pages where they were able to
choose the programs that were best suited for
theyre needs. - Web sites with the highest amount of impressions
were chosen to display the Sort Recycle Save logo
and banner ads. - Internet Strengths
- High Monthly Impressions
- Ease of Changing Banner Ads and Program Messages
- Customized Flash Pages
- Use of animation within web pages
26 27 28 29Additional Marketing Tools
- Mecklenburg Countys Commercial Recycling Program
is in the process of developing a
recycling/composting interactive, educational
CD-Rom to be implemented in the Charlotte
Mecklenburg Elementary School Curriculum
effective spring 2004.
30Thank You
- Mecklenburg Countys Commercial Recycling Program
- Audrey Mershon
- 704.336.3777
- Mershal_at_co.mecklenburg.nc.us