How to Start, Maintain or Rejuvenate a School Recycling Program. Diane Varney-Parker and the MMS Recycling Club Milford Middle School - Milford, NH

Transcription

1 How to Start, Maintain or Rejuvenate a School Recycling Program Diane Varney-Parker and the MMS Recycling Club Milford Middle School - Milford, NH

2 Ideas for starting a recycling program in your school: Who?? o Find others who are passionate about recycling and willing to help students, science teachers, art teachers, custodians, school aides, parents, etc. What?? o Decide what to recycle in your school. o Start Small/Simple something achievable Ideas: paper, plastic, printer cartridges, etc.

3 Form a Recycling Club o Group responsible for the program How will it be done?? o Who will collect recyclables o And When? Where?? o Containers How many containers are needed for classrooms, hallways and cafeteria and will money be needed to purchase them? o Where will items be stored? o Where they will go to get recycled (transfer station, dumpster, etc.)

4 EDUCATE o Club members can make presentations to classrooms, lunch groups, school announcements and bulletin boards o Explain the Importance of Recycling, school procedures, etc. o Weigh/Measure Recyclables and post this information for the school to see how much has been accomplished and to encourage more recycling.

5 Look for Resources that can help your program The NRRA School Club Sign up at: Connect with NRRA staff and other schools Get ideas and support for your program Find Resources for Fundraising And school programs like: Team Earth Trash on the Lawn Day (TOLD) Annual School Conference And more

6 NRRA TEAM Earth Awards Program (relaunched as of 7/14/15) A program that recognizes CLUB members great recycling with potential for prizes!!! Download the Activity Manual, choose activities, and earn points. 3 levels of recognition: BRONZE Beginning the Awards program! 30 points + Recycle 2 items. Reward - Bronze Award Sticker; CLUB Press Release to local paper. SILVER Going beyond basics! 60 points + Recycle 3 items. Reward Silver Award Sticker; CLUB Press Release to local paper; automatic entry in the Conference drawing for $200 CLUB programming credit. GOLD Reaching for the highest level of recognition! 100 points + Recycle 4 items. All 3 levels must be reached within 4 years in order to achieve a Gold Award. Reward Gold Award Sticker; CLUB Press Release to local paper; automatic entry in the Conference drawing for $200 CLUB programming credit; Best of the Best Award presented at Annual Conference; Free Conference Registration for winner and one guest; Free Tree* (up to $250) and planting ceremony at your school.

7 Award, Reward, Stay Positive!!!! o Hold contests and competitions (between grades or classrooms, etc.) o Find a reason to celebrate + educate Earth Day NH Recycles Day o Focus on the positive and what s been accomplished!!! o Remember to congratulate your school, Club and Yourself!!

8 Build Your Program Fundraising Ideas: o Terracycle o Trex o Cartridges for Kids o Pepsi Recycle Rally o Bake Sales, crafts and more o Grants

9 TerraCycle Founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky, a 20- year-old Princeton Freshman who began producing organic fertilizer by packaging liquified worm poop in used soda bottles. Now considered an Innovative Recycling Company and a Global Leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste. TerraCycle partners with manufacturers and retailers around the world to upcycle typically non-recyclable items. Just create an account, join a brigade, collect items, ship them for free and Earn Money for your school (or favorite non-profit)! Join a Brigade: Do It Yourself projects: Buy Upcycled Products:

10 The MMS Story: Our group started in 2005 with 1 teacher and 3 students concerned that there was NO recycling at our school. As a group we met with our principal and with his support we were able to get large collection bins plus recycling bins for all classrooms throughout our school. Our focus was on our most wasted item PAPER and the students were put in charge of collecting. We met 2 times a week during their recesses and much of this time was used for them to collect. As more students saw the good we were doing our club grew to over a dozen students within a year and we were able to expand our efforts. We joined Terracycle s Yogurt Container Brigade. We happened to have a surplus of containers Donated to the art rooms. By joining the Brigade we were recycling AND earning money to supplement our program!

11 As the MMS Recycling Club grew so did their enthusiasm. We discovered the Team Earth Awards and with hard work, dedication and support from our school and administration we were able to earn the: Bronze, Silver and Gold awards within a year and a half by going beyond the basics of recycling. We now recycled paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and cans, yogurt containers, and sneakers through the NIKE reuse-a-shoe program. They also got our school to implement procedures to cut down on paper use: like /online attendance, lunch counts and school notices. Club members also educated students and staff about recycling with a bulletin board, the morning announcements and school newsletters. Students tracked our schools recycling progress and offering tips.

12 Then what??? After our awards and a highly active couple of years MMS continued to recycle. The group went through new student groups, schedule changes, a new Zero Sort Recycling Contract (ALL recyclables are now put in 1 bin). We also expanded our involvement with Terracycle - participating in about 6 Brigades.

13 We continued to Celebrate events like: NH Recycles Day, EARTH Day, etc. Having Recycled Art shows and other highlights throughout the School year to remind students about the Importance of Recycling - when able.

14 For a few years Recycling at MMS continued at a plateau - without a true focus, with inconsistent enthusiasm and results Until a NEW group of students joined the club They noticed that improvements that could be made, especially in our cafeteria They had NEW IDEAS And were ready to DO EVEN MORE!!! But HOW??

15 After attending last year s School Recycling Conference, having a great time and learning a lot We made a Plan to Reduce waste at MMS by 10% To do this we decided to: Raise awareness at MMS about recycling Trash on the Lawn Day - TOLD Apply for a grant to make $$$ to help us accomplish this Better organize our current system Make recycling efforts fun/positive

16 Rewarding Recycling focusing on the positive Green Titans and prizes. MMS Staff And Recycling Club members can reward Students for doing the right thing. 3 Green Titans = a prize 5 = a snack bar coupon

17 MMS Trash on the Lawn Days (TOLD) Oct. 26 th and 27th

18 An Eye-Opening experience for Milford students and staff!!

19 And great leadership from our MMS Recycling Club!!

20 A Chance to Reflect and Plan New Data from our 2 TOLD s baseline audit with numbers and weights Conducted School Surveys after the 2 TOLD s Received Input from NRRA - Cindy and Gwen of best ways to improve our system. Main Focus = Cafeteria Recycle, Terracycle, Compost and Waste Plans for now Needed Recycling Bins + signs Spring Follow Up

21 With determination (and luck) We received several Grants = $$$ which helped us further our goals KEYS to getting a Grant: Have a measurable goal Reduce waste by 10% Develop a plan/steps to achieve this goal Create a clear idea of what success would look like Ask for money!! If you don t get it ask - AGAIN! If you DO get it ask - AGAIN!!

22 We got a banner to illustrate our commitment to Reducing waste at MMS And used the new awareness and enthusiasm for recycling - after our TOLD s By having students write pledges to reduce waste for - NH Recycles Day

23 Our New Cafeteria Bins were a hit!!

24 Adults and students help monitor the new bins.

25 Improved Terracycle Collection ($$$ - MONEY) with Yellow bins and bags

26 And Compost!!! We also started Composting in the lunch room our food waste is separated out and a local farmer picks it up twice a week. We also have 3 classrooms Currently using Vermicomposting

27 Our group is growing and so are the recycling efforts at MMS! Today we have about 20 students and 2 advisors Support from administration, custodians and lunch monitors And other teachers throughout the school going above and beyond in recycling and reducing waste (setting up recycling collections at the town library, digging through trash when items don t belong and more.)

28 Coming next GREEN WEEK

29 More Resources: NRRA School Recycling Club - Pepsi Recycle Rally - Crayola Color Cycle - NH Audubon Eco-schools Terracycle Website: Join a Brigade: Do It Yourself projects: Buy Upcycled Products: Cafeteria Recycling Ideas - Recycling worksheets - Great Recycling Posters Environmental-Services/Recycling - More Posters and ideas for school recycling

30 Feel free to contact me Diane Varney-Parker at: or ext. 1503