Waste Reduction Fact Sheets on ...

Schools

GENERAL TIPS

• Get staff & students involved in your waste reduction efforts. Keep them informed of the goals and objectives of your program and set up a waste reduction committee.
• Inform parents of your 3Rs program and try to get them involved in your waste reduction efforts (i.e. ask parents to bring in egg cartons, old jewellery, toilet paper rolls and other items to use for crafts. Although this will not reduce your waste, it will reduce the parents waste and your material costs.
• Encourage staff and children (i.e. talk to their parents) to bring "litterless" lunches in a reusable lunch container/bag.
• Discourage items such as aseptic containers and individually packaged snacks such as cheese and cookies.
• Install water-saving devices in the washrooms, energy -efficient lights, timers and a computerized thermostat to reduce energy costs.
• Be creative! Various activity fact sheets are available from the RCO. e.g. How to make recycled paper, The Reach for the 3Rs script.
• Turn off all lights & equipment when not in use.
• Close the loop; support and encourage the purchase of materials and/or packaging that contain recycled or refurbished content. In order for the province to achieve the target of at least 50% diversion of waste from disposal by the year 2000, the Province of Ontario has passed regulations requiring schools with enrolments of 350 or more students to conduct waste audits, develop waste reduction workplans and source separate recyclable materials. Details of Ontario's new 3Rs Regulations can be obtained by contacting the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MOEE) at (416) 323-4321 or 1-800-565-4923.

  This fact sheet has been developed by the Recycling Council of Ontario Waste Reduction and Information Service (WRIS) and funded by the MOEE, to assist you in your waste reduction efforts. The tips given here are by no means a complete list of possible reduction methods, but they will provide a solid basis for beginning a waste diversion program.

OFFICES AND CLASSROOMS

• Use double-sided photocopies to reduce paper consumption.
• Circulate memos via routing slips instead of sending out individual copies.
• Use overheads, marker boards, or blackboards instead of paper flipcharts in meetings.
• Convey messages via homeroom representatives or over the public address system.
• Purchase office and classroom supplies in bulk.
• Use refillable pens and pencils.
• Reuse old cardboard boxes for storage or for packaging outgoing materials.
• Reuse file folders by reversing the folders or applying new labels.
• Reuse envelopes for internal mailings.
• Post announcements on central message boards.
• Use single-sided sheets of paper as scrap paper for calculations or rough notes.
• Send used books and office equipment to a local charity or social service agency.
• Form a waste exchange within the school or among several schools to enable students and staff to find new homes for unwanted books, clothing, jewellery, sports equipment and other items.

CAFETERIAS & GENERAL MAINTENANCE

• Use pump dispensers for ketchup, mustard and other condiments.
• Use bulk dispensers for milk, soft drinks, coffee, tea, etc.
• Use ceramic mugs and dishes, and stainless steel cutlery instead of disposables.

RECYCLE & COMPOST

• Set up bins for fine paper and blue box recyclables in offices and classrooms; set up recycling bins for cans and bottles in convenient locations in the cafeteria and lunchrooms.
• Try vermicomposting (composting with worms) small quantities of food scraps in the classroom, perhaps as part of a science project.
• Take advantage of "student power" (i.e. students in detention could spend the time repairing damaged furniture or sorting items for recycling).
• Use cloth towels in place of paper towels.
• Purchase phosphate-free detergent/dishwashing soap.
• Use non-toxic alternatives to commercial cleaners, pesticides and other such products.
• Set up a three-bin composting unit outdoors for food and yard wastes.
• Educate students, teachers and janitorial staff to separate food wastes from recyclables and garbage for composting.
• Plant a vegetable or wildflower garden and get students to care for it.
• Use finished compost to improve the soil in the garden or use it on school grounds.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT THE FOLLOWING:

Local Municipality

Ontario Waste Exchange
2395 Speakman
Dr. Mississauga,
Ontario L5K 1B3
(905) 822-4111

Recycling Council of Ontario
489 College St., Suite 504
Toronto, Ontario
M6G 1A5
(416) 960-1025

Ministry of Environment and Energy
Public Information Centre
135 St. Clair Ave.W
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
(416) 323-4321
1-800-565-4923

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

1. "Green Teacher - Education for Planet Earth". This book is published five times during the school year. It discusses a wide range of issues, and provides excellent ideas for teaching students of all ages about the environment. For more information contact, Green Teacher, 95 Robert St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2K5, tel.(416) 960- 1244, fax (416) 925-3474

The Recycling Council of Ontario's e-mail address is: rco@rco.on.ca.