Recycling & Waste Management Section

Transcription

1 Recycling & Waste Management Section Green & Healthy Schools Assessment tice: Participation in the Green & Healthy Schools program is completely voluntary. To apply for desired state recognition in one or more topic areas, provide complete information as requested on this form. Names of participating schools will be posted on the Green & Healthy Schools website and information about implemented school practices may be used to promote healthy and environmentally sound behaviors and educate students. Wisconsin Open Records Law requires the Department to provide records, including personal information, upon request [ss , Stats]. This form is prepared as part of the Department s policy on education as authorized by NR 1.70 (3) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Reducing waste (using less stuff in the first place), reusing items, recycling and composting save natural resources, energy and landfill space. Practicing waste reduction and recycling can also save your school money. This assessment will help identify current methods of handling waste at school and start you thinking about how these methods can be modified to make your school more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Sustainable practices are those which meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. School Name: Date: Conducted By: Please include administrators, teachers, school staff, students and parents involved in this assessment. Name Title and/or Grade Level School Population: Students: Staff: A. Classroom Assessment Have each classroom complete the Waste Disposition Chart (see accompanying PDF document on the Green & Healthy Schools website). Also, complete one for all other rooms in the school. 1

2 B. Trash disposal at your school 1. What percent of your school s waste is thrown away (not recycled or composted) each day? (Use the Waste Disposition Charts from each room to get your estimate.) 2. How many dumpsters for non-recyclables does your school have? 3. How often are they emptied? Daily Twice a week Weekly 4. On average, how full is each dumpster when it is emptied? Dumpster 1 Dumpster 2 Dumpster 3 Half full Almost full Full Overflowing 5. Who picks up your trash? Municipality Private Hauler School Staff 6. What does your school pay for trash disposal services? Monthly Annually 7. If figures are available from billing statements, how much waste is thrown away by your school (tons or cubic yards)? Monthly Annually 8. Where is the trash taken or where does it end up (be specific)? C. Recycling in your school 1. Does your school have a recycling program? 2. Does your school have a system in place for properly managing and recycling electronic waste (computers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players)? 3. Does your school have a plan for properly disposing of light bulbs, such as compact fluorescents, that contain mercury? 2

3 4. What is recycled at your school? Aluminum containers Batteries Cell phones Computers Copier cartridges Glass Milk cartons Paper Plastic Printer cartridges TVs, VCRS, other electronics: 5. Who does the recycling within your school building? Custodial staff Teachers Students Other 6. Where are recycling bins located within your school? Classrooms Hallways Cafeteria Office Copy Room Gymnasium 7. Are all recycling bins located next to trash cans? 8. Are all recycling bins clearly labeled? 9. What percent of your school s waste is recycled each day? (Use the Waste Disposition Charts from each room to get your estimate.) 10. Does your school have an indoor area for storing recyclables? 11. Does your school have an outdoor area for storing recyclables? 12. How many recycling dumpsters does your school have? 13. How often are they emptied? Daily Twice a week Weekly 14. Who picks up your recyclables and takes them to a recycling center? Club School Staff Municipality Private Hauler 15. What does your school pay for recycling services? Monthly Annually 3

4 16. Does your school receive any income from recyclables? If yes, how much? 17. Where do your recyclables go after they are taken from the school (be specific)? 18. What happens to recyclables after they leave the recycling center (be specific)? D. Composting in your school 1. Does your school have a compost program? If yes, who manages the composting site? How is the finished compost used? 2. Does your school leave grass clippings on the lawn/athletic fields? 3. Does your school rake up leaves? If yes, what happens to them? Burned on site Composted on site Taken to a landfill Taken to a local composting facility 4. Does your school compost other yard waste (leaves flowers, grass, garden weeds)? If yes, what is composted? 5. What does your school do with dead branches and tree limbs? 6. Does your school compost food waste? If yes, who collects the food waste for composting? What types of food do you compost? 4

5 E. Purchasing, Reduction and Reuse 1. Does your school or district buy recycled office paper? 2. What percentage of your school s total office/classroom paper content is post-consumer material, fiber from forests certified* as responsibly managed and/or chlorine free? * Certification examples include Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, American Tree Farm System or other certification standard. 3. Does your school or district buy other items made from recycled materials? If yes, list them: 4. Does your school or district buy items in quantity to reduce the amount of packaging and save money? If yes, list them: 5. Does your school save paper by: Corresponding with parents by ? Corresponding with staff by ? Corresponding with students by ? Giving tests online? Managing finances electronically? Printing on both sides of the paper? Reusing scrap or paper written on one side? Storing records electronically? 6. Does your school extend the life of items by: Collecting clothing, food, etc. for charities? Donating unclaimed lost items to a charity? Reusing large kitchen food storage containers? Salvaging items for reuse when lockers are cleaned out at the end of the school year? Serving food on reusable trays? Sponsoring swap days? Using metal silverware instead of disposable eating utensils? YES YES NO NO 5

6 7. When classes go on field trips, do they: Recycle the cans and bottles they brought with them? Minimize the amount of trash they generate by using lunch boxes or cloth bags and reusable containers? F. Curriculum and Community 1. Are waste reduction and recycling part of your school s curriculum? If yes, in what grades are they taught? 2. Has your school staff recently participated in any training programs/workshops that include waste reduction and recycling education? 3. Does your school participate in any problem solving waste reduction and recycling projects that benefit the community? If yes, what are they? 4. Some waste management facilities can be educational resources. Which are in your community? YES NO LOCATION Landfill Local solid waste or recycling office Material Recycling Facility (MRF) Municipal Composting Site 5. Does your town sponsor community recycle days when people can bring items that are difficult to recycle, such as batteries, cell phones and pharmaceuticals? If yes, when are these community recycle days offered? G. Action Plan Based on the information you found out from this assessment, what recommendations do you have for the school to improve its waste and recycling programs? Use the chart on page 9 to brainstorm and organize your ideas for action. 6

7 Waste and Recycling Assessment: Ideas for Action Based on the information you gathered from the Waste and Recycling Assessment, what action ideas do you have to reduce waste and increase recycling efforts at your school? Use this sheet to record your ideas. Section General Ideas Classroom Connections/ Lesson Plan Ideas Community Involvement/ Activity Ideas Outside Sources (organizations, community members, professionals) A. Waste Disposition Chart B. Trash disposal at your school C. Recycling at your school D. Composting at your school E. Purchasing, Reduction and Reuse F. Curriculum and Community 7