Recycling project

School Recycling: The First Step...

Recycling Roundtable - Student How to Explanation - Teacher Resource Information - Why not Start With Paper?- Hoggard's Experience- Comments
Organizations that made this project possible Lumina News' article on Gregory's green team. Written by Marimar McNaughton. Thursday, May 22, 2008 Developing a Recycling Pilot Program As part of developing the pilot program, research was carried out on current and past efforts of recycling in North Carolina. Based on this information an example of 10 different recycling models are available. To view go to:	Starting a Recycling Pilot Program A recycling pilot project was developed by Marilyn Graham as part of an independent study project for Environmental Studies. Ms. Graham is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington (UNCW). The project was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Peter Schuhmann, Environmental Economist and faculty member in the Department of Economics and Finance at UNCW. As part of this study sources were contacted both in the waste industry and New Hanover County Schools (NHCS). These included: Gene Wingerter, Cameron Executive Network; Lynn Bestul, New Hanover County Waste Planner; Vince Sanudo, A1 Sanitation/Republic Services; and Dr. Alfred Lerch, Superintendant for NHCS. They were asked for recommendations regarding a school that would undertake a recycling pilot program. From this exercise, the Gregory School of Science, Math, and Technology was selected and the pilot project was carried out. For more information on pilot results got to:	Who is in charge of recycling in schools? In New Hanover County Schools there is a variety of people who promote recycling in schools from the school counselors, math, science, or physical education teachers. Schools are not uniform in this activity. Nonetheless, those involved are the school recycling "champions". This is part of the information found in the 2008 school recycling survey. For more details go to:

Recycling Environment

Why not start with paper?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that paper represents 33.9% of total materials disposed nationwide. School's, on the other hand, have 47% paper as part of their total waste stream, according to the California Waste Management Board.

The Recycling Roundtable

On May 20, 2009 a recycling roundtable was held as an initiative to begin a conversation between teachers, school recycling champions, schools, county officials, and parent organizations over recycling in schools.

The topics addressed during the roundtable:

- The Gregory paper Recycling Pilot Program.
       *Results of pilot and survey.
- Recycling In New Hanover County Schools.
       *Results from NHCS Survey .
- How other Counties In North Carolina Recycle .
- Steps that can be taken to increase recycling in
   Schools.
- Benefits and obstacles to recycling in schools.

For roundtable topics:

How recycling works

To hear the student explain school recycling process click on the picture

For more information on starting
a recycling program

How Recycling is done at Hoggard

I wanted to share how we recycle at Hoggard HS.

--We asked students from the Senior Beta Club to donate an 18-gallon Rubbermaid container and a box of 33-gallon garbage bags for each classroom.

--We use the containers to collect empty plastic bottles and cans.

--We use old boxes to collect paper to be recycled. Ideally, once a week, a pair of students go class-to-class to collect all of the recyclables.

--We tie the bags off and set in a specific location for another pair of students to put in their trucks / SUVs /cars.

--These students take the bags to the recycling center at WB or at The Moose Lodge on CB road and separate into the appropriate containers.

--We average about 12 full bags a week that we deliver.

Our method costs the school $0.

Nick Jupena, NBCT
Math Teacher
John T. Hoggard High School

Survey Comments on Recycling
from NHCS recycling champions

These are some of the comments expressed by recycling coordinators on difficulties encountered
when starting a recycling program in their school:

"I just took over the program this year and started collecting data about how much we are recycling.
I am disappointed the city would not provide any
bins or do any collection".

"YES YES YES Please ask our schools to recycle
all products! Also have them turn off ALL
lights and air/heat when no one is in the buildings
at night and on weekends!"

For more comments go to:

Teacher Resources

A series of links to sites with information on starting
a recycling program and teacher study guides
are available on the teacher resource segment.

For more details go to :

A note from Kelly Dennings:

"NC DPPEA has many resources available that we
can provide to local governments for school
recycling projects. We have grant funds available, recycling curriculums and activities, educational material like decals and posters and incentive
items like pencils and stickers. Let me know
if I can be of assistance".

Kelley Dennings, Education and Outreach Project Manager NC DENR, Division of Pollution Prevention
and Environmental Assistance

Home ~ Different School Models ~ Pilot Program ~ Gregory Survey ~Teacher Resources ~ NHCS Survey Comments ~ NHCS Survey Data ~ Roundtable

Developed by Marilyn Graham for University of North Carolina-Wilmington Environmental Studies project EVS 491. For inquiries: mgraham@ec.rr.com