Mecklenburg County Mecklenburg County School Recycling ProgramSchool 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 1998-99 school year, garbage contract managed by school purchasing department

•Before 1998-99 school year, 10-12 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

• 25th Largest School system in the US• 113,859 Students• 145 Total Schools

2003-04 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 $2.79

12 Gallon $3.56

16 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 2002-03 school year, CMS recycled 1590 tons

•2001-02, 1088 tons

•2000-01, 992 tons

•1999-2000, 585 tons

Education CenterEducation 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 ProgramBudget 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 LogoThe 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

Public Outreach

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 2004.

Additional Marketing Tools

Thank You

Mecklenburg County’s Commercial Recycling Program

Audrey Mershon

704.336.3777

Mershal@co.mecklenburg.nc.us