Single Stream Recycling ProgramFramingham, MA

Liz EllsworthRecycling Coordinator/Environmental Educator

March 29, 2011

Framingham Public Schools

• Single Stream Recycling Program: Fall 2006 – Present– Prior to 2006: paper and plastic bottles at some schools

• Total Student Population: 8,182

• Total Number of Schools: 141 Pre-School8 Elementary Schools 3 Middle Schools

2 High Schools

Program Driver

2 Violation Notices

Recycling Program Mandate

Pilot Program

• Mutual venture between Town of Framingham and Waste Management– WM wanted to pilot single stream recycling programs– Town of Framingham required to implement school recycling program

• Recycling Program– Institute sustainable paper recycling program– Introduce single stream once routine established

• Pilot at Framingham High School– Total school population: 2600+ (2,152 students, 500 faculty and staff)

• Utilized MassDEP Grant– Municipal Waste Reduction Technical Assistance Grant– Awarded to Town of Framingham DPW– Allowed for hire of intern to focus on Framingham High School’s recycling

program

Pilot Program Implementation

• Designated key areas within school for placement of recycling collection carts

• Created weekly collection schedule• Educated school community about benefits of recycling and

new program procedures• Estimated volume of collected recycled materials each week

Pilot program was a success!!

• Amount of collected material increased significantly• Single stream recycling implemented throughout all

Framingham Public Schools

Program Logistics

• Identify what type of recycling program to implement – Material(s) to collect

• Paper only, co-mingled, or single stream

– Overall goals– Evaluation criteria

• Hold initial program meetings prior to start of the program– Meetings prior to start of school year

• Custodians, principal, DPW or Board of Health liaison• Contact interested parties (students, teachers/staff, PTO)

– Principal introduces new recycling program at first all-staff meeting of the year

• Determine equipment necessary for program– Containers for: classrooms, hallways, offices– Sizes

Program Logistics cont.

• Acquire containers– What does the school already own?– Who foots the bill?– How are they transported to the school?

• Map out the collection container logistics– Where are they placed?– Who is responsible for emptying them?– Who reminds school community to empty them?

• Coordinate collection– Establish collection routine within school community– How will the new program work with existing trash and recycling collection

schedules?– What is the start date?

Program Logistics cont.• Education and communication

– What is recycling?– Describe program goals and procedures– Open dialogue between all parties

• Be on site– Daily to start and less as program becomes institutionalized– Address concerns

• Track the collection– How full are the containers?– Identify trouble spots and focus on key areas– Additional containers (special events or areas)

• Address any confusion– What can go in? – Contamination

• Reassess program needs

Program Logistics cont.

• Maintain contact with the invested parties – Principals, hauler (Waste Management), custodial staff– Monthly district-wide Conservation Committee meetings– Visit with Green Teams or environmental clubs

• Follow-up with staff on collection logistics• Report program’s progress to all invested parties

• Once infrastructure and routine established– Evaluate trash containers to see how full– Determine which ones could be reduced in size

Program Costs

• Labor– Custodial, DPW, school staff – No additional costs required

• Material– Wheeled collection carts (toters)

• Provided by recycling hauler - typically no additional costs

– Classroom and desk side bins (typically $5 each)– Educational materials (created by student groups)

• Other– Recycling collection at schools already included under existing

recycling contract

Overall costs for implementation was lowDedicated time to ensure program success was high

Education and Outreach

• Provide age-specific recycling presentations (K-12)– Single classroom programs and school-wide assemblies

• Partner with key school groups– Custodial staff, environmental clubs, green teams, science classes, PTO

• Create multilingual educational materials – English, Spanish, and Portuguese

• Utilize school media– Newspapers, newsletters, TV, and internet

• Positive feedback• Participate in community-wide events

– Earth Day, Green-Up Day, America Recycles Day

Results

• Recycled 29,433.2lbs of single stream material in the first 6 months of the Pilot Program

• Framingham HS recycled 35% of the waste generated during the 2010 calendar year

• Modified trash collection at several schools• Reduced number of trash pick ups each year• Reduced size of trash dumpsters

• Recycling now part of the “norm!”

Continuing Success

• Maintain partnerships & open dialogue with all parties– Custodial staff, DPW, Buildings and Grounds, principals, teachers, staff,

school communities, PTOs, Green Teams

• Highlight success stories (shameless self-promotion)

• District –Wide Conservation Committee– Offering Professional Development Points (PDPs) for teachers and staff

participation time

• Rejuvenate enthusiasm for recycling– Contests: in-house or company-sponsored – Recyclable material –specific drives: Styrofoam or catalogs– Encourage recycling program extensions – composting, athletic fields, etc

Questions?

Liz Ellsworth, Recycling Coordinator/Environmental EducatorTown of Framingham

Ph: 508-532-6005/ E-Mail: meme@framinghamma.govwww.framinghamma.gov