Starting A School Recycling Program

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Virginia Recycling Association
Starting A School Recycling Program
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MOBRO 4000

• Recycling receives massive interest
• EPA Task Force on Solid Waste
• National Recycling Rate of 25
• 40 States passed recycling legislation

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Who is the VRA?

• Virginia Recycling Association
• Was formed in 1990 around the same time as the
  Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act
• Why? Legislation enacted in the late 1980s
  required Virginia localities to recycle at least
  25 of waste

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Q How do we recycle 25?

• A Residential Recycling Programs

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School Recycling Initiative

• Can you send a bin on over to my class room?

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School Recycling Survey July 2007
Do Not Recycle Have Some Recycling Good
Recycling Program Unknown
Warren
Prince William
Rappahannock
Stafford
King George
Westmoreland
King William
New Kent
Charles City
James City
York
Prince Edward
Newport News
Tazewell
Isle of Wright
Wythe
Virginia Beach
Washington
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• School Survey Results
• 53 of school systems responded (52/98)
• 20 of counties have some type of recycling in
  schools
• Localities with no response were rural counties

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• School Survey Comments
• Budget Restraints
• budgets are so tight that we lost several
  teachers at our school and we have a "freeze" on
  the purchase of any new textbooks or technology

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• School Survey Comments
• Grass Roots Approach
• those of us on the ground level, so to speak,
  are better equipped, better informed and often
  more inspired than those at the top.

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• School Survey Comments
• Grass Roots Approach
• The program was teacher organized and run, and
  when that teacher left, no one picked it up.

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• School Survey Comments
• What resources do you need?
• Classroom containers, education, large bins that
  go at the street, pick up service

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Assemble Your Group

• Teacher
• Student
• Solid Waste Department
• Custodial
• Service Provider
• School Board / Superintendent

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What do you have now?

• Who collects your trash?
• Do they provide recycling services?
• How much are you spending on trash p/u?
• Perform a waste audit.
• Decide what you want to collect
• Research vendors

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Education

• Tell your schools how to recycle
• Signs
• Announcements
• Letters
• Reminders
• Assemblies/Events

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Keep it going

• Renew the contract!
• Add more services.

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What to expect in future

• Grants
• Bin Assistance
• More infrastructure

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Examples of Cost Savings

• Is the garbage picked up every day, spending over
  2 million
• Can you change packaging in food service
• Cardboard, Paper and Aluminum are valuable
• Cell Phones, Electronics and Ink Jet Cartridges

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Virginia Recycling Association
School Recycling Workshop July 17, 2008