Schools Could Boost Nation's Recycling Rate

The recycling rate of America's municipal solid waste has remained nearly flat at 27 percent to 30 percent for the past four to five years. In an effort to improve this figure, Dr. J. Winston Porter, in cooperation with Keep America Beautiful, Inc., Stamford, Conn., has produced the new “School Recycling Guide” to help America's schools do their part to increase recycling.

"Energizing recycling in schools will provide a boost to national recycling rates by educating the next generation in this key environmental activity," Porter, president of the Waste Policy Center in Leesburg, Virginia, says. Previously, he was an assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with national responsibility for solid and hazardous waste programs. While at the EPA Porter set a national 25 percent recycling goal, which was reached in the mid-1990s. Last week, the EPA set a new national recycling goal of 35 percent to be reached by 2005.

The “School Recycling Guide” is designed for students and educators in middle schools through junior colleges. It provides a series of fill-in-the- blank tables and instructions that allow schools to develop their own recycling programs. Topics include assessment of potential recyclables in the school; identification of local markets for recyclables; design of the actual recycling operations; and development of educational programs to support recycling activities.

The types of recycling programs addressed include waste materials related to paper, plastics, aluminum, steel, glass and composting of yard clippings and food wastes. Programs also are described for the growing need to recycle electronics like computers and printers.

Summaries of sample school-based recycling activities are provided, as well as a list of organizations providing additional information.

The “School Recycling Guide” is available from Keep America Beautiful Inc. for $7.50. Discounts are available for Keep America Beautiful affiliates and for large-quantity purchases. Orders may be placed by phone at 203-323-8987, fax at 203-325-9199 or e-mail at orders@kab.org.

Keep America Beautiful Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose network of more than 500 local, statewide and international affiliate programs educates individuals about litter prevention and ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials. Through partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, its programs motivate millions of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, thereby creating healthier, safer and more livable community environments.