Recycling Recommendations
1. Recycling bins should be viewed as instructional materials. As such the Department of Education (DOE) should invest in 2 colored recycling bins for every classroom, one for paper and one for metals, glass & plastic (MGP). They should also have tops on them. The top for the paper bin should have a narrow slit in it and the top for the MGP bin should have a round hole to remind people what the bins are for.
2. First the carrot and then the stick. Offer bonuses to principals and custodians whose schools excel at recycling. Sanitation workers can see if recycling is being performed properly because garbage bags are clear. Principals are responsible for staff development and as such has the power to set the agenda at staff meetings. Recycling needs to be discussed at these staff meetings but is usually overlooked.
If after two years a school is not compliant, the principal and the custodian should be fined. Or, charge schools for trash pickup, as Susan Cohen suggested in her 1993 NY Times editorial.
3. Mandate one or two periods per week for the school's appointed Sustainability Coordinators so that they have time to see to their recycling program responsibilities. Getting a school to recycle properly involves cooperation among the students, teachers, principals and custodians. It takes time and effort to coordinate meetings among staff and administrators.
4. Invest in reusable cafeteria trays and dishwashers and stop “throwing away” 118 million Styrofoam trays every year. The city spent $3.4 million on Styrofoam trays in 2012.
Throughout history the rhetoric has always been that "resources are limited." But still the city finds money for other sustainability initiatives. For example, the city has a $100 million contract to replace Number 6 heating oil boilers at 43 of its older buildings. There is also a plan to replace toilets with low flow models in 500 public schools that is currently in a pilot phase. If the city can finance these prudent yet costly projects then it can install dishwashers and buy reusable trays that would cost an estimated $20 million citywide.
5. The city, as well as the state, regulates teacher licenses. As part of the city’s licensure requirement, new teachers should be required to take a short course on recycling that covers the basics. Along with that the city should work with the City University (CUNY) education programs to develop short courses on sustainability. The same should be developed for principal training programs.
6. A poster about recycling be placed in every elementary school classroom
7. Paint the sidewalks next to school buildings where trash is left for DSNY pickup 3 colors, one for trash, one for paper and one for bottles. This way the waste stream stays separate.
8. Enlist the 831 ATR's (teachers without work but are getting paid) to help do recycling audits
Background information about recycling in NYC
2. First the carrot and then the stick. Offer bonuses to principals and custodians whose schools excel at recycling. Sanitation workers can see if recycling is being performed properly because garbage bags are clear. Principals are responsible for staff development and as such has the power to set the agenda at staff meetings. Recycling needs to be discussed at these staff meetings but is usually overlooked.
If after two years a school is not compliant, the principal and the custodian should be fined. Or, charge schools for trash pickup, as Susan Cohen suggested in her 1993 NY Times editorial.
3. Mandate one or two periods per week for the school's appointed Sustainability Coordinators so that they have time to see to their recycling program responsibilities. Getting a school to recycle properly involves cooperation among the students, teachers, principals and custodians. It takes time and effort to coordinate meetings among staff and administrators.
4. Invest in reusable cafeteria trays and dishwashers and stop “throwing away” 118 million Styrofoam trays every year. The city spent $3.4 million on Styrofoam trays in 2012.
Throughout history the rhetoric has always been that "resources are limited." But still the city finds money for other sustainability initiatives. For example, the city has a $100 million contract to replace Number 6 heating oil boilers at 43 of its older buildings. There is also a plan to replace toilets with low flow models in 500 public schools that is currently in a pilot phase. If the city can finance these prudent yet costly projects then it can install dishwashers and buy reusable trays that would cost an estimated $20 million citywide.
5. The city, as well as the state, regulates teacher licenses. As part of the city’s licensure requirement, new teachers should be required to take a short course on recycling that covers the basics. Along with that the city should work with the City University (CUNY) education programs to develop short courses on sustainability. The same should be developed for principal training programs.
6. A poster about recycling be placed in every elementary school classroom
7. Paint the sidewalks next to school buildings where trash is left for DSNY pickup 3 colors, one for trash, one for paper and one for bottles. This way the waste stream stays separate.
8. Enlist the 831 ATR's (teachers without work but are getting paid) to help do recycling audits
Background information about recycling in NYC
