Recycling, Reusing and Waste Reduction P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | Protecting Our Resources for Future

Recycling, Reusing and Waste Reduction

P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org

Protecting Our Resources for Future Generations

What’s In the Landfill?


Yard Trimmings 17.6%

31.6 MT

Metals 8.5%

15.3 MT Glass 7% 12.5 MTPlastics

8% 14.4 MT

Other -Rubber, Leather, Textiles, etc

11.6% 20.8 MT

Food Scraps 7.4%

13.2 MT

Paper 40.4% 71.6 MT

MT=Million TonsImage Courtesy of US EPA

This Decade In the US We Will Throw Away…

1 million tons of aluminum cans and foil

More than 11 million tons of glass bottles and jars

Over 4.5 million tons of office paper

Nearly 10 million tons of newspaper


How Long Does That Trash Really Stay There?

700 Years:

Plastic Bottle

1 Million Years:

A glass bottle

FOREVER:

StyrofoamP.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org

Recycling-Viewing Trash in a Whole New Light!

Reusing waste to save resources


Because Glass Doesn’t Grow On Trees!

Courtesy of Glassco Recycling

Why Recycle?

It’s Good for the Environment!

Recycled glass generates 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours 1

Annually, enough energy is saved by recycling US steel to supply Los Angeles with electricity for almost 10 years 2


Why Recycle?Trash Incineration is an Environmental and Social

Justice Issue

Incinerators release Dioxin, Mercury and other Toxins

According to US EPA and the National Academies, Dioxin, even at very low levels, causes cancer, birth defects, and developmental problems

Incinerators are often sited in minority or impoverished communities


Why RRR?Save Money for Your School

Each time you reuse paper it is less paper you have to buy

You can hold fundraisers for toner and printer cartridges, as well as cell phones


Recycling Begins With You

If everyone in the U.S. recycled just 1/10 of their newsprint, we would save the estimated equivalent of about 25 million trees a year

Recycling all of the waste newsprint, cardboard, glass, and metal in one home can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year


Recycling Begins With You-How to Do It Correctly

Lids + Liquid = Unfit for Recycling

When In Doubt, Leave It Out

NO pizza boxes, napkins, or anything with permanent food residue


Photos Courtesy of P. Hayes

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.packaginggraphics.net/imgages/images/recycle-resin-logos-lr_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.packaginggraphics.net/plastic-recycle-logos.htm&h=179&w=123&sz=5&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=6x26wbBig_hhRM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=69&prev=/images?q=recycling+symbol+on+bottle&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=

Clustering Recycling Bins Is Critical!

Clustering: Placing all disposal bins together in one area


Signage!A study found that positioning sign prompts over

receptacles resulted in a 29% higher rate of recycling


http://www.turtleislandrecycling.com/media/TurtleIslandRecycling_mixedpaper_sign.pdf

http://www.turtleislandrecycling.com/media/TurtleIslandRecycling_cans_sign.pdf

http://www.turtleislandrecycling.com/media/TurtleIslandRecycling_bottles_sign.pdf

Odds and Ends Electronics and Computers

www.perscholas.org

Local drop-offs for batteries

Printer and toner cartridges, and cell phones


Recycle Those Odds and Ends for Money!

Recycle empty printer, fax, and copier cartridges, as well as cell phones.

Raise money for a school fundraiser or towards your favorite charity.


Half a gallon of oil is conserved for every

laser cartridge returned!http://www.collectcartridgesforcash.com/http://www.tonerbuyer.com/http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/recycle/toner.htm

http://www.collectcartridgesforcash.com/

http://www.tonerbuyer.com/

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/recycle/toner.htm

Involve Your StudentsMake artwork out of trash!

Recycling activities enable them to learn and have fun

Research projects

Visit a landfill or recycling center

Use food scraps or yard waste as compost for a school garden that the students attend to

Town or river clean up to collect recyclables and trash


Composting Hands-on Science Lessons for

Your Students

2/3 of trash is biodegradeable and can be composted

Composting is possible with student and staff cooperation


Photo courtesy of Mansfield Middle School, Connecticut

What You Will Need To Compost

Compost bin that allows aeration, but prevents waterlogged conditions and deters pests



What You Will Need To Compost

Leaves and Wood Chips to place over each food addition

A collection barrel

Tools

Schoolwide participation from custodians, teachers and students



In SummaryRecycling saves…

Energy

Resources

Landfill space

Money for your school

It is an easy, good environmental choice that can enhance your curriculum!

P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.orgCourtesy of Waste to Wealth

Methods of Success for Reduction, Recycling and

Reuse At Your School

Survey the facilities to identify problems

Measure baseline usage; look at bills and purchasing records

Have a recycling audit to determine initial rates of recycling

Make a To-Do List

Start with easier steps that save money for more elaborate programs

Measure your success! Compare records before and after.

Publicize to educate and gain support


How To Do A Waste Audit

Materials Needed:

A Worksheet to record all information

Trash and recyclables for a given period

Scale

Plastic Tarp

Gloves and nose pinchers!



TRASH BAGS

Sort out the rubbish in the trash bags into categories: trash vs. recyclables. Place recyclables into separate piles based on type

- Cans and bottles

- Paper

- Compostable items: food, leaves

Weigh the different piles

RECYCLABLES BAGS

Weigh the recyclables based on type



Calculate the percentages of total recyclables found in the trash by using the recorded weights.

For example:

5 lbs of paper found in the trash 10 lbs of paper recycled Total paper= 15 lbs Percentage of paper thrown away: 33.33%


An Integral Part of Any School: Paper !

Empowerment Through Reduction and Green Purchasing


•Make a big difference through purchasing recycled content paper and using less paper overall

Courtesy of PADEP

Easy Ways to Cut Back on Paper Use

Make a scrap paper bin easily available for use in printer or for students

Print and copy double-sided if possible

Allow students to print assignments on scrap paper

Print single spaced to save room

Utilize online capabilities for assignments


Courtesy of Amazing Recycled Products

Why Purchase Recycled Content Paper?

“Ton for ton, replacing virgin kraft pulp with deinked pulp will have the greatest positive environmental impact on forest resources”1

1 tree makes 16.67 reams of copy paper or 8,333.3 sheets, therefore 1 ream (500 sheets) uses 6% of a tree (and those add up quickly!)2

Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil 2


Recycled Content Paper


Understanding Terms Pre and Post Consumer Waste

Post’ refers to products or materials generated that have already served a particular function, and were subsequently recovered or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream to be recycled

‘Pre’ refers to materials generated within the production cycle of a product that have been recovered from or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream to be recycled.


Many Recycled Paper Options


Performance Guaranteed!

The age, capabilities, and operation of papermaking equipment have a greater impact on the properties of the finished product than its recycled or virgin content

Based on extensive interviews with paper and equipment manufacturers, it was found that the frequency of copy machine jams is not correlated with the use of recycled content paper.


Cost Effective!Many times recycled content paper is the same price

or cheaper than virgin paper

However, if recycled content paper is more expensive through your supplier you have options:

Try to find other areas to cut paper costs and use money saved to buy recycled products

Work with suppliers to reduce the costs of other factors within the supply system

Accept a lower level of recycled content within the paper if need be


Paper Is A Key Ingredient to Any School-You Can Make A Big Difference!

You directly save trees, resources and energy with reducing paper use and buying ‘green’

Students understand the importance of conserving resources with each and every assignment


SummaryRecycling, Reusing and waste Reduction are

great for the environment, student learning and savings for your school

There are many ways to make a difference, including recycling, purchase of recycled content products, and reuse of paper

It is not an overwhelming change—REMEMBER SMALL CHANGES SAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES!


Questions?


Documents

Recycling, Reusing and Waste Reduction P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | Protecting Our Resources for Future