Mecklenburg County School Recycling Program

Why Did the County Become Involved? 1997 Solid Waste Management Plan “…organizations with commercial waste- including…schools, and government agencies---called upon to reduce the amount of waste disposed. Government and schools are targeted to lead the way.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Waste Contract History Before school year, garbage contract managed by school purchasing department Before school year, schools had recycling programs

Recycling Program Development Reviewed CMS waste contract and hauling records Interviewed key staff at 10 schools Monitored waste collection services at 10 schools to determine if level of service was correct Findings- No consistent level of trash collection service based on school population needs

Waste Sort Types & quantities of recyclables in waste stream 3 School levels High School-35% Middle School-40% Elementary-25%

Pilot Recycling Program Materials Collected: cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum/steel cans, plastic bottles 3 Schools Recycling dumpster provided for collection

Combined Contract SW approached Park & Recreation, County Building and Grounds, CPCC and CMS about combining solid waste services. A commingled fiber recycling program was included in the solid waste services proposed

RFP Sent out an RFP for solid waste/recycling service Prices came back favorable

In 1998, Mecklenburg County and CMS, signed an Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services. This allowed the County and CMS to consolidate their collection services and achieve a greater scale of economics. Interlocal Agreement

Recycling Program Implementation Process Implementation began September 1998-Targeted completion March 1999 Memo from assistant superintendent sent to all principals County Recycling Team Coordinate meetings with schools Distribute materials Coordinate delivery of recycling dumpster Troubleshoot problems

Recycling Program Implementation Process Recycling supplies provided by the County Signs and locks for dumpsters Curriculum Posters Collection containers

Notebook paper Fax paper Computer/copy paper White & colored paper Legal pads Construction paper Stapled paper File folders Drawing paper Envelopes Post-it notes Brochures Index cards Catalogs Newspapers Phonebooks Magazines Flattened cardboard Paperboard Do Recycle

Paper towels Hardbound Books Tissues Text Books Paper cups Pizza Boxes Waxed Cardboard Pencil Shavings Rubber Bands Napkins Don’t Recycle

25 th Largest School system in the US 113,859 Students 145 Total Schools CMS Facts 88 Elementary Schools 29 Middle Schools 17 High Schools 11 Special Programs

Mecklenburg County has a Recycling Ordinance that requires schools that generate 16 cubic yards (approximately two 8-yard dumpsters) of trash per week to keep cardboard and paper out of their trash dumpster. A school can be fined if it is not in compliance with the Recycling Ordinance. Ordinance

How To Get Started Mecklenburg County Recycling Department can provide CMS with: Educational flyers Recycling signs & posters Recycling containers Recommendations on placement of containers Mecklenburg County provides a “hotline” to report problems and a 24-hour cure for missed pickups. Cost Of Containers Deskside $ Gallon $ Gallon $3.72 Rollout $34.00

Custodian Fact Sheet Student Fact Sheet Recycling Team Fact Sheet Cafeteria Recycling Fact Sheet Middle School Activity Book High School Activity Book Educational Materials Available

Recycle Fundraiser Program The fundraiser program is designed for an organization to collect and recycle used & empty Inkjet and Laser printer cartridges from your participant’s home or parent’s office computer. Instead of discarding these plastic cartridges in the trash, which eventually end up in our landfills, we encourage the use of recycling them for cash, payable to your organization. For more information, please log on to:SortRecycleSave.charmeck.org

Current Status of Recycling Program Implementation All schools have recycling system in place In school year, CMS recycled 1590 tons , 1088 tons , 992 tons , 585 tons

Education Center Mecklenburg County has a state of the art education center. It is located at the County’s MRF. Approximately 10,000 people tour the MRF and visit the education center each year

Budget for School Program FY 2001/02 Solid Waste Print = $2000 Promo = $9000 Containers = $4500 FY 2002/03 Solid Waste Budget Print = $2000 Promo = $9000 Containers = $2400 FY 2003/04 Solid Waste Budget Promo = $11,000 Containers = $5400 Temp = $6000

CMS Success Stories McKee Road Elementary has been recycling for four years. A special programs teacher serves as the Recycling Coordinator. To get the recycling program started, the Recycling Coordinator placed collection containers throughout the school, enlisted collection support and promoted the program by integrating it into existing curriculums. Their approach has worked well for the past four years and all areas of the school participate.

CMS Success Stories Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School has been recycling for three years. A school club collects the recyclables from the school except the cafeteria, where cafeteria staff place flattened cardboard in the recycling dumpster. Recycling crew members are paid “microbucks” which can be spent at the school store. Irwin Avenue Elementary promotes recycling by periodically making recycling announcements on the public address system and placing notices in the school newspaper.

Additional Marketing Tools Revised Logo The Wipe Out Waste Logo and Tagline has been revised to the following. The graphic illustrates the act of recycling and the correlation with the environment. The new tagline incorporates the formula of recycling… SortRecycleSave.charmeck.org

Public Outreach Internet: Banner ads were used to drive the public to specific flash pages where they were able to choose the programs that were best suited for they’re needs. Web sites with the highest amount of impressions were chosen to display the Sort Recycle Save logo and banner ads. Internet Strengths High Monthly Impressions Ease of Changing Banner Ads and Program Messages Customized Flash Pages Use of animation within web pages

Public Outreach

Mecklenburg County’s Commercial Recycling Program is in the process of developing a recycling/composting interactive, educational CD-Rom to be implemented in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Elementary School Curriculum; effective spring Additional Marketing Tools

Thank You Mecklenburg County’s Commercial Recycling Program Audrey Mershon