Green Up Our Schools

1. Why should we recycle?

89% of school waste is recyclable or compostable, yet most of it ends up in the landfill.

2. How is waste reduction different from recycling?

Recycling is important, but an even better idea is to cut down on the amount of things you throw away in the first place (even if you are throwing them into the recycling bin). This is called waste reduction. For example, rather than buying a disposable water bottle that will only be used once, buy a reusable one that will last for years.

3. What’s global warming, and what does recycling have to do with it?

This answer deserves an entire website on its own, but in a nutshell, global warming is the effect of the Earth warming up (also known as “climate change”) due to the presence of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide.

Recycling helps significantly lower carbon emissions associated with extracting virgin materials, manufacturing products, and waste disposal. Recycled aluminum, for example, takes 95% less energy to produce than new aluminum. Manufacturing 1 ton of recycled paper results in 74% less air pollution and 43% less water pollution compared to the manufacture of paper using virgin wood pulp.

4. Why do we need your help to start recycling?

We’ve done this before! We can offer you our advice and help you through the process of setting up a waste reduction and recycling program. And, last but not least, we’ll pay you to do it.

5. My school already has a recycling program. Can we apply to the program?

Yes!! Green Up Our Schools ask your school to recycle a little bit more and waste a little bit less. There’s always room for improvement. (Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions about how to do this.)

6. What can we spend the money on?

Each of the three years is funded by $500 which may be used for anything that promotes the success of the program.

This may include buying recycling bins, reusable utensils and containers for the school cafeteria, recycling services provided by a commercial waste hauler, compensation for extra time spent on the program by the teacher in charge, etc.

The $500 bonus at the end of the program has no restrictions!

7. Which schools are allowed to apply?

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2008-2009 school year. Keep checking back for news on when we’ll be accepting new applications.

8. What about energy efficiency and waste water?
All of these issues are important and your school is encouraged to address them. However, the Green Up Our Schools program focuses solely on solid waste reduction and recycling.