REDUCING OUR WASTE STREAM!
When the environmental club was created in the 2009-2010 school year, many members joined with the specific purpose to improve our school's recycling. We had no recycling in the cafeteria or the copy room and limited paper recycling in the classrooms. Students were upset with our bad habits and knew that we had to reduce our school's waste stream. They decided to tackle this issue by introducing recycling in the cafeteria and by reducing the amount of paper that teachers were using in class. As our waste reduction goals continued to expand, our administration took the lead in reducing paper usage for communications and encouraging the use of technology instead of paper whenever possible. Then our environmental club and pilot students led additional efforts to start reusing paper before recycling and to limit the use of paper towels. Our staff members also stepped up to establish a glue stick recycling campaign and ink cartridge and cellphone recycling stations.
When the environmental club was created in the 2009-2010 school year, many members joined with the specific purpose to improve our school's recycling. We had no recycling in the cafeteria or the copy room and limited paper recycling in the classrooms. Students were upset with our bad habits and knew that we had to reduce our school's waste stream. They decided to tackle this issue by introducing recycling in the cafeteria and by reducing the amount of paper that teachers were using in class. As our waste reduction goals continued to expand, our administration took the lead in reducing paper usage for communications and encouraging the use of technology instead of paper whenever possible. Then our environmental club and pilot students led additional efforts to start reusing paper before recycling and to limit the use of paper towels. Our staff members also stepped up to establish a glue stick recycling campaign and ink cartridge and cellphone recycling stations.
RECYCLING IN THE CAFETERIA:
County Recycling:
This is one of our Cafeteria's Recycling Bins. Several committees of students looked at the best way to get recycling started in the cafeteria. After many trials, the number of trashcans in the cafeteria were reduced and the cafeteria was divided into 4 areas. Each area of the cafeteria now has its own recycling station with a county bin for paper bags, milk cartons, bottles, and cans. Two years ago, we had no recycling in the cafeteria. Now we are averaging 15 pounds a week. *WBS
"I'm amazed at the number of items students are recycling, and the decrease in volume of trash that we are creating. I'm very impressed." Mrs. Monti (assistant principal)
Terracycle:
At our 4 recycling stations, we are also collecting Frito-Lay chip bags and Capri Suns drink pouches. We succeeded at using this program for earning money for our outdoor classroom and are still doing it. Twice a week, students from our Green Team collect the bags and pouches, clean them, and package them to send to Terracycle. Terracycle gives us 2 cents for each bag/pouch that we collect. We have sent over 4000 bags and pouches. Terracycle uses the bags and pouches to make new products like handbags and kites. *WBS
"Helping the Earth is exciting. It's important to recycle." Emily Suter (student) "And it's easy too!" Jaclyn Peffall (student)
At our 4 recycling stations, we are also collecting Frito-Lay chip bags and Capri Suns drink pouches. We succeeded at using this program for earning money for our outdoor classroom and are still doing it. Twice a week, students from our Green Team collect the bags and pouches, clean them, and package them to send to Terracycle. Terracycle gives us 2 cents for each bag/pouch that we collect. We have sent over 4000 bags and pouches. Terracycle uses the bags and pouches to make new products like handbags and kites. *WBS
"Helping the Earth is exciting. It's important to recycle." Emily Suter (student) "And it's easy too!" Jaclyn Peffall (student)
REDUCING PAPER USAGE: To encourage teachers to use less paper, the staff was challenged to reduce the amount of paper that they use for 5 different assignments. When each teacher successfully reduced paper usage for an assignment, he/she checked off a box on our online tally sheet. Once 5 assignments were checked off, our friendly Lorax visited the teacher and thanked him/her for a job well done. Here's how our staff accomplished their goals:
Using Paper More Wisely:
- Teachers reduced font size and margins in order to fit more on a page.
- Teachers made half sheet assignments rather than full sheet ones.
- Teachers made worksheets double sided.
- Teachers allowed students to tear loose-leaf paper in half for quizzes and write on it instead of writing on the photocopy given.
- Teachers now have reusable paper bins in their classrooms and they encourage students to reuse old paper before taking out a new sheet.
Using Technology instead of Paper:
- Teachers started using document cameras to display sample work instead of making copies for the class to see. All teachers ready to make this step were granted a document camera by our principal!
- Teachers started using projectors instead of worksheets whenever the students' work could be written on scrap paper instead of a handout. This allows students to fit more practice work on one piece of paper.
- Some teachers converted lessons to an online tool called the Moodle. This secure e-learning community allows teachers to set up wikis, quizzes, projects, and forums for class lessons.
- More teachers began using a clicker system that allows students to answer questions electronically and to see the class responses on the screen.
- Administration uploaded our staff handbook to the Moodle and eliminated the annual handout of schedules, regulations, and important forms. Activities added to our school calendar and modified schedules are posted on the Moodle instead of being photocopied and distributed on paper. Staff members are encouraged to "read on their screen" and not to print out the information.
- The student-written school newspaper is now on-line, eliminating the monthly paper distribution. A link can be found on the right side of our school website: http://www.mountviewmiddleschool.org/
- The weekly school newsletter and all important announcements to parents are sent home via e-mail, eliminating paper distributions: A link to the latest newsletter can be found on the left side of our school website: http://www.mountviewmiddleschool.org/
"I see a difference now. I notice that instead of passing out individual papers to every student, you can just go online to read about our lessons." Mak Kennedy (student)
RECYCLING GLUE STICKS:
Currently in our school we are placing Elmer's Glue sticks into these containers so they may be recycled. This will help reduce the amount of glue sticks that are being thrown away by our school. These are shipped to Terracycle just like the drink pouches and chip bags. *WBS
RECYCLING INK CARTRIDGES AND CELLPHONES:
We collect cellphones and and ink cartridges when they die or when they are no longer being used.
We sell them to Advantage Cartridge so that the parts can be reused and to prevent some of the harmful phone batteries from
leaking in landfills that can potentially harm our environment. We use the money that we earn from these collections to fund our environmental projects. *WBS
REDUCING PAPER TOWEL USE:
A student committee looked at how to reduce the number of paper towels that we were using at school. They found a national campaign called "These Come From Trees" that sells stickers encouraging people to only take 2 paper towels. This campaign's research shows that each sticker saves one tree's worth of paper each year. Now we have these signs on all of our paper towel dispensers.
"I think these signs are good. They keep more trees alive to keep our air healthy." Jessica Allen (student)
"I think these signs are good. They keep more trees alive to keep our air healthy." Jessica Allen (student)