School Recycling Program
School Recycling Program
I Love A Clean San Diego provides technical assistance to schools and districts looking to improve their recycling and sustainability efforts. Through the school recycling program, ILACSD gives campuses the tools they need to promote an environmentally sustainable place of learning. We work with employees at all levels of a district to establish a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction program that maximizes waste diversion, leading to a more sustainable future for the students.
ILACSD helps to incorporate traditional and organic waste recycling practices at schools.Through the program, students and staff recycle materials like cartons, cardboard & paper, bottles and containers. They separate extra food scraps and napkins, and that material gets taken to a local industrial facility and made into compost or digestate. Extra food that can still be eaten is put on a share table for other students to eat. Through this process, schools have seen a 90- 96% reduction in landfilled waste, which saves schools money on hauling fees, saves space in our landfills, and encourages and eco-friendly mindset, independence, and initiative in students.
Successes
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Students educated on proper recycling
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Recycling materials delivered to local schools
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Schools County-wide implemented
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Reduction in landfill waste at participating schools
California’s Statewide mandate, SB 1383, aims to curb climate change through reducing greenhouse gasses, and it lays out requirements that will help us meet emissions goals. Under SB 1383, commercial properties, including schools, need to divert organic materials from the landfill. When organic materials, such as food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard waste, sit in a landfill, they generate Methane, which is a gas with 80 times more warming potential than Carbon Dioxide. Landfills are the third largest emitter of methane in the United States, and organic material accounts for about 40% of the material found in landfills. By handling organic materials properly, we can significantly reduce methane emissions and create a cleaner environment.
Did you know that most of the waste deposited in landfills is from the commercial sector? And did you know that the large majority of that waste, is not waste at all? AB 341 requires that all commercial properties (including schools) recycle. Recycling saves space in our landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and saves natural resources.
What Does This Program Look Like?
Step 1: Baseline Assessment
ILACSD visits the school for the first time. During this visit, a staff member will meet with the principal, custodian, and kitchen staff to discuss current processes around procurement and disposal of materials on campus. The staff will do a walk-through of campus to assess current waste management practices and needs. Based on that information, ILACSD creates a customized implementation plan based on their observations.
Step 2: Training
ILACSD provides staff training on new local recycling mandates, the changes outlined in the implementation plan, and best practices. ILACSD also provides student training on the importance of recycling, and how to properly sort their items.
Step 3: Implementation
ILACSD returns to the school to implement the school’s customized plan. During that time, we will bring items needed including: recycling bins of various sizes, signage, lunchtime sorting equipment, and resource guides. We will help out with lunchtime sorting, walking students through the process, or standing by to answer questions. During implementation, ILACSD also works with custodial staff on creating an optimal bin setup around campus.
Step 4: Check-In/Wrap Up
I Love A Clean San Diego will come back to the school to check in with students and staff and track progress over time and provide any additional support needed.
Interested in the School Recycling Program for your school district or jurisdiction? Contact us at recycling@cleansd.org.
“I Love A Clean San Diego provided incredible support and resources throughout our district to help us successfully implement organics recycling on our campuses. The staff provided excellent training for our custodial staff, our cafeteria staff, site administrators, teachers, and especially the students. Their hands-on approach helped us adopt new procedures and develop our own best practices to ensure long-term success.”
Amy Haessly
Director of Child Nutrition at Fallbrook Elementary USD