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Home My WebLink About0395.095, , i -- o City of Palo Alto City Manager's Report TO: HONORABLE CITY COI-INCIL t'ROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DATE: SeptembEr 7, J 995 CMR:395:95 SUBJECT: School Recycling Update RWl!EST This is an informational report on the status of the school recycling program, CoonciJ action is not required, RfTOMMEN!MTIONS No action necessary, J'OUCV IMPUCATIONS No"", EXFCmIYE SUMMARY In response 10 the requirements of AB939. and parents and IeaChen interested in provkfing recycfing optiom 10 students and staff in the Palo Alto Unified School DisIrict (PAUSD), the Rec;Cfing Program slaff approacbed the PAUSD business office manager 10 discuss reducing waste in schools, Waste audits were perlonned at both middle schools, both high schools and at three of the eleven elementary schools. Audit results were presented 10 the parents and school staff who acled as School Recycling CoorOlIl3tOfS, These volunleers were solicited from the Parent-Teacher Association. by school principals and Recycling Program staff, The success of the school recycling program is a result of the partnership of "oIunteen, the PAUSD Business Office, and Recycling Program staff, The klIJow1ng information describes the contributions of each in establishing DisIrict-wide r<:Cycling, RecycUng Program Staff City staff presenled a "plan of attack" 10 District staff and volunteers 10 accompftsh the group', recycfmg goals, COO!<linated necessary meetings, cootainer delivery, follow-up and publicity. To avoid up-front rental =Is 10 PAUSD for containers, the Recycling Program donated ooe set ofwheeled recycling carts 10 each partkipating scbool roo, collection of white paper. co!o<ed paper, glass and plastic. tin and aluminum. and oewspaper, Collection of these material. is provided at 00 additional cost 10 the schools, Staff ",-oded with Lipton Tea ' ... '.13 _:C:<~_:~'1:~~"'~~~_"':_, "';r"'.' ""J·_~r_,"d.<"'-"'''' "'" .. p .... -· .. mr_ ... .-..-..~·-,....- .J:~>~ "', . ~- -, -' . j .-~/ -, ~ --" .. o Company who donated over 500 fruit and fructose contalners for reuse as classroom and IunclI area recycrmg =ptacles. These were deUvered 10 the District warehouse by the San 5<>sc~ Caps free ofcharge. Peninsula Sanilllr)' Services Inc. donated <:<>mpareble recycling services and equipment 10 the PAUSD school, which they 5e,,""k.,. PAUSD Th.: PA usn business <>ffi« requested support from each school by soliciting assis1ance from principals and custOOial staff. Th.: District provid.:d the necessary infrastructure alwwing lOr cardboard recy<ling at each school. The Food Servic.:s trucks now b5Ckhaul cardboard from each school \0 • central school location, wbere existing cardboard recycling bins are located. This. .runinaled the need for each school 10 pay for rented cardboard bins. In addition, the School Board passed • new recycling policy requuing increased purchases or post-consumer coolent school supplies and an active recycUng coor<fmator and recycling team at each school. As an incentive, each school may offset their budget red<>ctioos with savings Crom reduced garbage costs. Parent and T.lc •• r Support Volunteer Recycfmg Coor<fmalors are essential \0 thls program'. success. Each Recycling Coordinator (mostly parenl5) recruited • student group of "Recycling Team L.:oders: who assist with monitoring lunch area recycfing. Recycling Coord"malo<s Irain studenl: volunteers and provid.: them with identifiers such as sashes or buttons. Recycling Coordinators woded wi1h custodlal staff; principals and teachers \0 organize the program 1ogis1ics at each school, organized a kiclr.-<>ff event (most schools scheduled them during Earth Day week), and notified parents about the new program via school nev."letters and letters sent home supporting "No Waste Lunches.' R .. "IIJ •• d Fabre PIau Th.: District-wid.: recycling program is DOW functioning in nine or the fifteen schools and is woding well, al1hougb some schools have opted 10 not recycle beverage cOIIwners due to collectlon difficulties in luncb areas. Beverage container., bowC'o'ef, represent less than two pen:enI of the schools' lOla! waste stream. The participating schools incJud.:, Addison, El Carmel<>, Escondido, Duveneclr., Juana Briooes, Hoover, Walter Hays, Ohlone, and JLS. Some school principals bave already noticed • difference in the waste that is generated and are pllIIlIling 10 reduc.: their level of garl>age service. P Ausn estimates that S J 0,000 will be saved by recycUng and reducing waste during the program'. first year. City staff is planning follow-up waste audits in November 1995 \0 measure the program', Suc«5S. An awards ceremony was held in June 10 booor volunteers and District s'.aff lOr their efforts. The next pbase in the District·wide program will focus on middle school, high school, and private school recycling needs, implementing waste prevention strategies in PA USD purchasing procedures (Le., using reusabie pizza boxes in Food Services, installing band dryer> in batllrooms, providing reduced COSI bot beverages \0 ntiddle and high school ---:-", • studenrs if !hey bring their own reusable mugs), and implementing I pilo< worm CO<.1pOSIing program. FISC"" IMPACT Ser\'ices and equipment provided 10 dalf: inchlde reqcling carts K>< _h school, seNio....., charges 10 remove colored paper, and the volun!eer recognition event. In addition, an e<timated $1,000 K>< services and truilerials were avoided by obIaining reusable COOlainers from Liplon Tea Company and by baving the San lose Conservation Corps provide free transportation and labee K>< the defulery 0( the classroom and lunch area containers. ENVIRONMENTAl. ASS£SSMF.NT No enviromnental assessmelll is needed. ATfACIIMENTS P A USD Administrative Procedures b: Districl Reqcling PREP AlffiD BY: M"lCbael Miller, Deput)I Direc10l Operations Div'.slon CITY MANAGER APPROVAL, -li~AAi(a']~~oniY---- cc: Palo Alto Unified School District '-,"