Forming Effective Partnerships to Reduce School Waste How the Go Green Initiative Helped Pleasanton Schools Institutionalize Campus Recycling

Pleasanton circa 2002 Some schools were recycling, but many were not Recycling was not institutionalized, but rather a function of parent volunteers taking recyclables to the transfer station for fundraising Recycling education was not uniform. IF it happened, it was due to an enthusiastic teacher Then we started the Go Green Initiative…

What Does it Mean to “Go G.R.E.E.N.”? enerate less waste ecycle everything that cannot be reused ducate the community on eco-friendly options valuate the environmental impact of actions ourish discussions and activities that integrate environmental education into existing curriculum

Pleasanton in 2005 All 14 schools in PUSD were recycling Schools were quantifying their recycling The City used Measure D funds to support the program Local businesses were involved Local media covered numerous school recycling stories And the program spread…

Go Green Initiative (GGI) Fast Facts The GGI was founded in 2002… Mission The Go Green Initiative is a global organization that trains volunteers in schools to: Conserve natural resources for future generations Protect human health through environmental stewardship Global Market share Over 3,500 registered schools – pre-school through University 2.4 million students/196,000 teachers Operating in all 50 U.S. states, and in 73 countries around the world. Since 2005, GGI schools have kept over 10 million lbs. of recyclables out of landfills, which conserved the following: 34,500 barrels of oil 27 million gallons of water 3,836 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions 67 billion BTU’s of energy 14,104 cubic yards of landfill space

A Tale of Two Cities with the GGI Suburban Example – Pleasanton, CA Pleasanton Unified School District is: One of the highest performing school districts in the country. Nearly all of its schools are California Distinguished Schools and/or National Blue Ribbon Schools. The City of Pleasanton has: 70,000 residents, 5% of whom live below the poverty line. The median household income is $118,000. Pleasanton ranks #4 on 24/7 Wall Street's list of America's 50 best cities in which to live. www.GoGreenInitiative.org

A Tale of Two Cities with the GGI Urban Example – Camden, NJ Camden City School District is: The lowest performing district in the state of New Jersey, and three of their schools are in the absolute lowest performing schools in the state. Despite these academic challenges, the superintendent and the entire school district have made recycling a priority. The City of Camden has: 77,000 residents, 40% of whom live below the poverty line. The median household income is $26,000. Camden has one of the nation’s highest murder rates, and is routinely found on lists of the country’s most dangerous cities. www.GoGreenInitiative.org

School Recycling An Administrator’s Perspective – Forming Effective Partnerships On Campus

Harvest Park Middle School Forming Effective Partnerships The genesis was when my PTA President, Suzanne Young, introduced us to the Go Green Initiative. We formed a Green Team: custodian, leadership teacher, parents, students and myself. The custodian’s involvement was essential: what to recycle, where to recycle, where to place bins, and support needed from students, teachers and PTA to make it work. PTA helped get funding for recycling bins and signs that read, “Patriots Recycle Here.” Teachers got onboard, recycling in their classrooms and in the teachers’ lounge.

Many ways to involve students Leadership Teacher: set up work schedule for leadership students to help Student groups: could adopt-a-week as a fundraiser. MANY HANDS MAKE THE BURDEN LIGHT

Making it Fun! We also created posters featuring student leaders from sports, band, drama, skateboarders, and many other student groups.

After the Program Was Up & Running… Numerous groups, both local and national, toured our school The community saw our recycling on community-use fields and the in gym We raised money for student activities Invented a special lid that allowed us to recycle empty beverage containers at lunch without attracting yellow jackets

Recycling at the high school level… Same custodian, but bigger challenges Classroom recycling works well Teachers are supportive Band students pick up bottle and cans for fundraiser Leadership students pick up paper Lunch recycling is a huge challenge Recycling at events and around campus is also a challenge for current staffing levels

Recycling at the District level… Recycling is more strategic: Assistant Superintendent of Business Services is responsible for the waste hauling contract and saving money when possible Facilities Office is responsible for custodial training Purchasing Officer is responsible for purchasing bins and recycled-content products, e.g. paper, plastic lumber outdoor furniture, etc. Child Nutrition Services is responsible for ensuring that meals come in reusable, recyclable or compostable containers, to the largest extent possible School Board members are responsible for setting policy directing staff to make recycling and purchasing recycled-content materials a priority

School Recycling A Waste Hauler’s Perspective

In the Beginning… Prior to working with the Go Green Initiative, Pleasanton Garbage Service (PGS) offered very low hauling rates to local schools, but did not have a formal recycling plan At some schools, parent volunteers collected bottles & cans, and hauled them to the recycling center in their own vehicles to sell them for school fundraisers Problem: when enthusiastic parents were not available, recycling stopped

Working with the Go Green Initiative Institutionalize school recycling without eliminating school fundraising Recycling in all classrooms? Establish teacher mini-grants We piloted paper recycling program at one elementary to determine # of totes per capita We piloted beverage container recycling program at a large middle school which led to on-demand pickup schedule & profit sharing Schools needed an easy checklist . We funded the Go Green Planning Guide, with Appendix A: Negotiating with your Waste Hauler: https://gogreeninitiative.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PlanningGuide.pdf

Forming Effective Partnerships On Campus Stakeholder Challenges Solutions Principals No time for recycling Minimize the time they have to spend on recycling plans, but keep them informed Teachers Resistance to change Concern that sugary drink containers would draw bugs to classroom Teacher mini-grants for recycling Ensure adequate outdoor bins for recyclables that would not draw vectors Custodians Concern their workload would increase Devise an all-hands recycling plan that 1 or2 custodians like, then use their testimonials Parents Concerns they could no longer use bottles and cans for school fundraisers Use 4 yd. containers to store cans and bottles; on-demand pick up; profits go to school minus $25 fee

Forming Effective Partnerships Within the Community Schools City /Local Agencies Measure D funding for supplies Media Help Spread the word Business Community Sponsor incentives Volunteer on campus Parents/Residents Recycle at home Waste Hauler Use newsletter to spread the word Provide some bins

Waste Hauler Considerations What does the school need in order to set up a recycling program? considerations: #, type and placement of bins System for getting bins emptied into containers for pick up Pickup schedule Personnel Training to ensure minimal or no contamination Is Recycling in the Current Contract? How much will it cost to institute recycling in all schools? What items in our waste stream can be recycled? Is profit-sharing an option? Is it cheaper for schools to recycle than to throw recyclables in the trash, i.e. can the school save money if we recycle more? Will any of this change the contract?

Tweaking the Recycling System Incorporating food waste Ensuring adequate pickups to avoid vectors Bags/liners, or no? Keeping totes clean Dealing with liquids…and yellow jackets

Oakland Unified School District Custodial and Nutrition - Services Department Alameda County Schools and School Districts Central Contra Costa County Waste Authority Green Gloves Program and Beyond

Importance of a school waste reduction and sorting programs In Alameda County, schools account for 4% of the waste stream, but students are 100% of our future Action orientated-hands on involvement Community hub Direct path to homes and to community and beyond Reduce contamination

What is potentially in our school waste stream if it were properly sorted?

Cafeteria sorting system

Food Share

Donate! 1996 The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act 2011 Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act amendment Let’s bust the myth of liability, Tommy!

The Procedures

Food for Community Partners Food for Families Food for Community Partners

Community Partners StopWaste Altamont Education Advisory Board Alameda County Board Supervisor–Wilma Chan Alameda County Community Food Bank Community non-profits that receive donations Community Partners

Food Donation Snapshot May 2013 to May 2014 Donated over 10,000 lbs of food 57% milk Increasing team work Improving moral Tracking data Setting an example Community service Food Donation Snapshot

What’s next on food waste reduction? Food share and food donation sanctioned by county environmental health Food donation Reengage the program Pilot warehouse pick up system Consideration for students to take items with them out of cafeteria Plate waste tracking methods What’s next on food waste reduction?

District Wide Implementation Plan Challenges different size districts and staff/admin level of engagement Mandates Staff training Tool kit District Wide Implementation Plan

OUSD Green Gloves and Beyond For further questions or thoughts, please contact: Nancy Deming Sustainability Manager Oakland Unified School District-Custodial and Nutrition Services Alameda County Schools and School Districts Central Contra Costa County Waste Authority nancy.deming@ousd.org nancyldeming@gmail.com 510-290-4875