School recycling plan
By:
This year many changes are being made to help reduce the amount of trash going into the landfills. Our lunch volunteers are working hard to accomplish this. In an effort to save money and reduce the amount of styrofoam plates going to the landfill, lunch will be served on reusable plates at least two days a week depending on the lunch menu served and the amount of volunteers available. We hope to increase this in the near future. To reduce the amount of cellophane and ziploc bags, multifit plate covers are used on pre-made lunches. Lunch items are now served upon request rather than in pre-made individual styrofoam bowls and plates. This helps reduce wasted food and plates. The amount of trash cans used during lunch time have gone from sixteen to ten. Using less cans helps save on trash bags. No more half filled bags going out.
In the beginning of the school year two 8 yard dumpsters of trash were picked up three times a week totaling 208 cubic yards of trash a month. As of April, we have been able to reduce that to two 6 yard dumpster twice a week totaling 104 cubic yards of trash a month. We also have a 20 cubic yard dumpster that is picked up for recycling as needed. All aluminum, steel, scrap metal and old pots and pans are placed in this dumpster to be recycled. Our maintenance staff recycles all of the steel materials no longer needed (desks, chair frames).
Cardboard is being recycled as well. Currently 8 yards of cardboard is recycled weekly which adds up to 416 cubic yards of landfill space per year. This saves 25,350 pounds of cardboard which equals 2155 trees.
All these positive changes will result in a savings of over $5600.00 per year!
Old Way
Old way
New waste free way
Our awesome volunteers
Our awesome volunteers
Our awesome volunteers
Our awesome volunteers