Green Team recycling advocate program

History Janice Reynen. Member of the Wyckoff Green Team which is part of Wyckoff’s Environmental Commission. Joined Green Team in October helping Wyckoff get certified for “Sustainable NJ”. I discovered each school all had the same goals and all were reinventing the wheel. A big disparity existed between the 4 elementary schools and middle school in their recycling efforts. I set out to interview each school and find out what they were doing with the goal of creating uniform Green initiatives & recycling procedures. What essentially happened is I brought together the leaders of each school’s Environmental group to share best practices. I then worked with each school to get everyone on the same basic program. In April 2012 I gathered together a green contact from each school and created an awesome group of “Green Ladies”. Eisenhower- Eileen Avia Lincoln- Dina Kincel Sicomac- Beth Fischer Washington- Kim Nolan Packnovsky Coolidge- Dina Deana

Green Ladies to Green Goddesses We had meetings, listened to each other and figured out what worked and didn’t work in the schools. End results for the 4 elementary schools with support of each Principal: Kids are assigned classroom job of “Green Leader” to bring paper and plastic recycling bins to the lunch room. Day time custodian puts them in the correct outdoor bin. Night time custodians are not involved. Schools joined in National Walk Back to School Day – October 3, Raffle tickets & bookmarks given out at each school. Announcements of prize winner for walking/biking to school. All garbage & recycling bins are married up in the hallways and placed in strategic locations. After school sports programs seemed to be the biggest offenders – with extra bins by the gyms. All garbage & recycling bins will be correctly labeled with a Red, White & Blue theme. Bins will have custom stickers designed by Janice that clearly communicate via their shape, words, and pictures what belongs in which bin. This is needed to accommodate all age children. No lunches are offered in the schools in Styrofoam packaging at 4 elementary schools. Classroom Pledges: each class and teacher signed a pledge to be a “Recycling Hero” which is displayed in each classroom. Red, White & Blue Tri-fold display created for each school’s cafeteria giving actual lunch time examples of where the garbage & recyclables go. All 5 schools applied for the Bergen County Utilities Authority Environmental Awareness Challenge Grant. We received a total of $3, Janice completed 3 of the grants. Weekly Green Scene: one recycling tip to be shared in all 5 schools via electronic Friday Folder weekly. School presentations on recycling: PTO meetings, Theme Day, Friday Assembly, ETV interview, Assembly Washington EMS home ec classes taught to compost and recycling while cooking. Lunchroom recycling bins on wheels, conveniently placed, not by the doors.

Future hopes: Install same recycling ideals to YMCA, churches, nursery schools, library. Green Team meet with Chamber of Commerce to get local businesses on board. Refillable water stations/ combined with water fountains at schools.

What else can be done in schools National Walk/Bike to school day on the school calendar. October 9, Elementary School Code of Conduct: “Recycling mindfulness” under student responsibilities. GRANT MONIES SPENT ON: Money has been spent supplies for recycling pledges, display boards for cafeterias, dollies for existing plastic recycling bins, new wheeled plastic recycling bins, recycling themed bookmarks for the media centers, Green Minded curriculum for each age group offered to the teachers, composting collection containers, Green Themed Assemblies, recycling bin stickers.