Recycling In-Service September 19, 2014
Overview Welcome Get Started! Program Update Challenges Goals and the Future Collaboration and Feedback Resources
Welcome! We are excited to work with you to develop a longlasting and successful recycling program for Prince George s County Public Schools. Help us develop best practices. The Recycling Team (Department of Building Services/Plant Operations) is available to support your school recycling program.
PGCPS Recycling Team Sam Stefanelli - Plant Operations Supervisor Sara Campbell - Recycling Technician Wachare Charee Koslosky Recycling Support Ylrico Alexander - Chief Operating Officer, Aries Enterprises
Facility Coordinators Roger Coley Ingo Davies George Dorsey Dion Golatt Louis Snowden Kenneth Staton
Get Started 1. Form a Green Team 2. Develop your school s recycling program a. What to recycle b. Containers Location and signage Collection routine and schedule c. Involve staff and students d. Recycling Plan 3. Kick off your recycling program 4. Monitor and motivate
1. Form a Green Team Each school must have a Green Team consisting of: Principal Green Team Coordinator (from education staff) Coordinates recycling program Building Supervisor Coordinates recycling dumpster Students The entire school community should be involved in the program.
2. Develop Your Program a. What to recycle b. Containers Location and signage Collection routine and schedule c. Involve staff and students d. Your school s Recycling Plan *Download A Guide to Recycling at School*
Coordinator and Building Supervisor Work together on: Location of recycling bins and signs Collection schedule Involving staff and students Developing a school Recycling Plan Communicate regularly with the Recycling Team and school community about your recycling program Education Questions How to participate
2a. What to Recycle Schools can recycle items via: Single stream recycling recycling bins and dumpsters at schools Warehouse pick up Schmidt Center Each collection accepts specific items.
Single Stream Recycling (bins and dumpsters) Acceptable Materials Collected in another program Unacceptable Materials Do not put in recycling bins and dumpsters. Printable flyer available at www1.pgcps.org/recycling
Single Stream Recycling Acceptable items are collected in school recycling bins and recycling dumpsters. No sorting needed. Empty drink containers if possible Re-cap all bottles. Break down cardboard boxes. Recycling facility will not accept incorrect items.
Warehouse Pick Up Accepts: Electronics and accessories Textbooks Furniture Wooden pallets Scrap metal Complete and submit a Material Transfer Form. Warehouse will pick up items. Do not place these items in PGCPS single stream recycling bins or dumpsters.
Schmidt Center Accepts: Ink cartridges Toner cartridges Send items via Pony Mail. Do not place these items in PGCPS single stream recycling bins or dumpsters.
Unacceptable Materials Polystyrene or Styrofoam Certain plastics: bags, straws, utensils, condiment packets Snack packaging Food, yard trimmings Hazardous materials See website for additional information: www1.pgcps.org/recycling
2b. Recycling Containers For single stream recycling : Re-use containers you already have Convert trash cans Paper boxes Have students design and decorate classroom bins. Clearly label containers and post signs. Bins will be available to purchase from the warehouse.
Single Stream Recycling Dumpster All schools have a single stream recycling dumpster from Aries Enterprises. Keep recycling dumpster locked. Dumpster can be emptied while locked. Non-PGCPS recycling dumpsters (Abitibi Paper Retriever, etc.) are not part of the PGCPS recycling program.
Recycling Dumpster Lock #3252 Lock will be issued to the Building Supervisor. Attach the lock to both the cable and the horizontal bar.
Single Stream Recycling Dumpster Pick up schedule is online. Dumpsters emptied before school begins. Builiding Supervisor: check dumpster on pick up day and report missed dumpsters by 11am. Holiday/Snow day policy = 1 day delay
Recycling Bin Location and Signage Focus on key areas: Cafeteria Classrooms Offices, copiers and printers Hallways, vending machines Place recycling and trash bins together make it easy to recycle! Clearly label containers and post signs of acceptable (and unacceptable) materials Educate, monitor, and re-educate
Collection Routine and Schedule Who will be involved? Involve students as much as possible. When will materials be collected? What containers will collect materials? Suggestions: Collection - place large containers in hallways to collect items from several classrooms. Have students empty classroom bins. Breakfast in the classroom - what does your school do?
2c. Involve Students and Staff Involve students as much as possible Collecting materials Signs, posters, and education Let students and staff know expectations and goals of the program, and why they should participate Make participation fun and easy
2d. Recycling Plan Summarize how your school s recycling program works. Answer common questions of staff, parents, students. Help inform and involve the school community. Aid with staff turnover at school. Recycling Plan may look different for each school. Get input and assitance from staff and students. Complete this school year, modify as needed. Develop PGCPS plan together.
3. Kick Off Your Program Educate and involve the school community Staff: discuss at regular staff meetings Students: school assembly, morning announcements, classroom presentations Parents: flyer home, school website
4. Monitor and Motivate Regularly monitor trash and recycling containers Are items in the correct place? Convenience, awareness, education Celebrate and recognize success Send stories to the Recycling Team Regularly inform staff and students about the successes of the program.
Special Events/Celebrations Earth Day, America Recycles Day Kick off events (Fall) Celebration events (Spring) Back to school night Tour the recycling facility Send stories and info to the Recycling Team!
Recycling Program Update All Prince George s County Public Schools have a recycling dumpster from Aries Enterprises. Growing Pains: Amount of materials recycled and time to fill dumpster. Limited by frequency dumpster is emptied. Items in recycling dumpster. Incorrect items in the recycling dumpster Recyclable materials uncollected (put in trash) Trash in the recycling dumpster Neighborhood dumping = Areas for future improvement
Recycling Dumpster Challenges Neighborhood dumping Wrong items in dumpster: furniture, textbooks, electronics Items wedged in truck, broken equipment Truck out of service = interruption in pick up service Broken doors Solution: Keep dumpster locked. Put the right materials in the dumpster.
Recycling Program Update Overall, schools are doing great with the dumpsters and getting their programs up and running. Schools are ready to recycle more and need additional service days and/or dumpsters.
Current Projects Increase recycling amounts at schools Increase pick up frequency and/or # dumpsters Convert trash dumpsters to recycling dumpsters (cardboard) Make recycling bins available for purchase School Recycling Plans Paper shredding events (confidential files) November 2014: details on the website soon
Future Projects and Goals Send less waste to the landfill Decrease overall school waste rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle Convert trash dumpsters to recycling dumpsters Designate cardboard only recycling containers Increase communication and resources website, emails/newsletter Phase out non-pgcps recycling dumpsters
Non-PGCPS Recycling Dumpsters Abitibi Paper Retriever PepsiCo Dream Machine Recycle Rally Waste Management Local programs and other dumpsters PGCPS cannot empty these dumpsters. Non-PGCPS dumpsters can be removed by contacting the organization directly. Once the PGCPS single stream recycling program capacity increases (more service and/or dumpsters), these programs will be phased out.
October 8th Green Team Meeting By Keep Prince George s County Beautiful Recycling program update and more information Maryland Green School Certification Other green initiatives in the county
Collaboration and Feedback Help us develop and improve the recycling program. Provide feedback and suggestions Share resources: lessons, activities, handouts, etc. What materials/info do you need? What challenges do you need help with? Help us develop best practices and examples of successful school programs.
Resources Website: www1.pgcps.org/recycling Program information A School Recycling Guide Lessons and activities Waste reduction ideas And more!
Contact Us Sara Campbell sara.campbell@pgcps.org Wacharee Koslosky wacharee.koslosky@pgcps.org 240-455-3581 www1.pgcps.org/recycling
Questions?