San Diego City SchoolsRecycling Program

Goal: To Reach a 50%

Recycling Rate by 2005

Findings From 2000 Waste Audit

Close to $1,000,000 in trash disposal and mixed paper collection costs (less than $2.45/YD)

900, 3-cubic-yard-bins at 200 sites (176 schools)

59% of total wastestream is paper

Recyclables are contaminated in the classroom

Barriers to Implementation

Can not use instructional minutes for recycling education

Varying generation over large geographic area (huge system)

Budget cuts limit custodial involvement No SDCS implementation funds Schools need money

B E G

Better form strategic partnerships

Eagerly seek donations

Grant writing

Highest Priorities

Institutionalize recycling education at each school campus

Increase mixed paper recycling

Provide an incentive to recycle

Plan: Implement Educational Clubs at All Schools

Must be done during non-instructional minutes

Students operate beverage container recycling program (keep revenue from sale of materials)

Educate campus about district recycling programs

Monitor paper bins for contamination

Conservation Club Beverage Container Recycling Program

Sponsored by the California Department of Conservation

Keep California Beautiful (KCB) grant buys 188 recycling bins, locks, signage and 4,000 lids

Pacific Waste Services donates 4,000 red recycling bins

Form conservation clubs at middle/high schools through ASB’s/after school clubs

Conservation Club Beverage Container Recycling Program

Urban Corps of San Diego educates and provides container collection

City of San Diego provides one presentation to each club utilizing their education contract

San Diego Baykeeper provides club 20 presentations

Planet Protector Beverage Container Recycling Program

Sponsored by the California Department of Conservation

SDCS buys 400 recycling bins, locks and 1,000 jackets with DOC grant

Use 2,000 Pacific Waste Services donated red recycling bins and lids

Planet Protector Beverage Container Recycling Program

Form Planet Protector Clubs at elementary schools through after-school program

EPA provides 2,000 educational packets City of San Diego provides one

presentation to each club and buses selected Planet Protectors to EnviroSchool

Volunteers Lead Club Meetings

Facilitate a 45-minute club meeting monthly until the end of the school year

During the meeting, lead an environmental awareness activity

During the meeting, teach the students how to recycle on campus

Serve as a liaison between the SDCS recycling office and the school site

Restructure Trash/ Mixed Paper Collection Contract

Paper collected free of charge with revenue tied to an index

Waste hauler to collect landscape materials and trash

Optional food collection

Payment for Paper

School will be paid by the weight of the paper in each bin

Recycling truck has scales that weigh the amount of paper at the time of pickup

School will receive a check by the 15th of each month for the paper recycled in the previous month

District Savings

The District saves in two ways:

Free collection of recyclables Trash bins are emptied less, therefore the

district pays less This program alone saves the District

more than $300,000 per year Public agency clause

Recycling Programs to Reach 50%

Paper Mixed Beverage Containers Wood and Wooden Pallets Metal Food Concrete/Asphalt Donations/Reuse

Closing Remarks

Significant barriers surmounted by partnerships, education and incentives

District will reach a 50% recycling rate and save more that $475,000 once fully implemented