R3 Conference BMPs for K12

1. Town of Danvers
Department of Public Works
School Recycling

2. DEP Technical Assistance Grant - 2011
To implement more comprehensive recycling
programs in Danvers’ Schools by using Riverside
School as a pilot
• Research / Analysis Phase
• Pilot Development Phase
• Pilot Implementation Phase
• Recommending District-wide Adoption
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3. School Recycling Pilot Scope
• Form a Recycling Committee
• Conduct Recycling Survey to evaluate current program
• Conduct Waste Audit
• Conduct Staff/Teacher Surveys
• Meet with Parent Advisory Council
• Form student “Green Team”
• Introduce recycling changes by “Green Team” at Recycling
Rally
• Implement Program
• Follow Up Visits
• Write up a summary report 3

4. School Recycling Committee
• School Principal
• Teachers/Student Council Coordinator
• School Custodian
• Kitchen Staff
• PAC Members and Parents
• Danvers DPW Program Recycling Coordinator
• Food Service Director
• Hauler Representative
• MassDEP MAC
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5. Riverside School Recycling Pilot Program
Evaluate current recycling program
• Paper, minimal plastic bottles, cardboard
Brainstorm additional opportunities for recycling
• Kitchen, cafeteria, plastics in classrooms, paperboard
What are the challenges?
• Education, cleanliness, time, staff, cooperation
Perform waste audit
• Components, volume, frequency
Conduct inventory/needs assessment
• Bins, toters, dumpster, collection
Make recommendations for improving program
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7. WASTE AUDIT
Figure 1 - Textiles, paperboard Figure 2 - Textiles Figure 3 - Cardboard, Styrofoam
Figure 4 - Paper, cardboard,
plastic, Styrofoam
Figure 5 - Paperboard Figure 6 - Paper, paperboard
Figure 7 - Books
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RIVERSIDE SCHOOL
GREEN TEAM RECYCLING PLEDGE
 I PLEDGE TO DO MY PART TO RECYCLE
AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL.
 I PLEDGE TO REDUCE WASTE AND TO
REUSE ITEMS.
 I PLEDGE TO HELP MY FAMILY
AND FRIENDS RECYCLE AS MUCH
AS THEY CAN.
 I PLEDGE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
RECYCLE.

10. Riverside School
Green Team
Recycling Pledge
DateSignature
Town of Danvers—Department of Public Works
1 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923
978-777-0001 x3011
I, ________________________________, pledge to do my
part to recycle at home and at school. I also pledge
to reduce waste and to reuse items. I know that the
Earth’s resources are limited, and that by recycling,
we make sure there will be a future where there will
be trees, clean air, and clean water. I also pledge to
help my family and friends recycle as much as they
can, and to tell people about how important it is to
recycle.
10

11. District-Wide School Recycling Grant - 2012
$18,113
• To evaluate the current recycling program at each
school.
• To provide equipment and education to increase
recycling and bring a more comprehensive
recycling program to each school.
• Three Phases
– Elementary Schools (5)
– Middle School
– High School
• School Committee to formally adopt a district-
wide school recycling policy
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12. Danvers Public Schools
Recyclable Materials Policy
The Public School District of the Town of Danvers believes it to be our responsibility to make our students and
staff aware of the importance of recycling materials whenever possible to conserve the world’s limited
resources and conserve energy while exercising sound financial practices. To this end, all Danvers Public
Schools will recycle materials that would otherwise become waste, including paper, cardboard, bottles and
cans from throughout the school buildings and grounds, in support of the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection’s waste ban, which prohibits disposal of recyclable paper, cardboard and paperboard;
glass and metal containers; and single-resin, narrow-necked plastics.
The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Danvers Public School District, staff and students.
Success in reducing waste through recycling is based on the cooperation of all the individuals in the school
community.
To ensure success in the district’s recycling efforts, the following areas will be adopted:
• All district personnel are expected to support recycling efforts throughout the schools.
• Teachers are encouraged to include educational lessons on recycling in the curriculum and in
extracurricular activities where appropriate.
• A Recycling Committee consisting of teachers, staff and students will be created at each school to work
with the Danvers Department of Public Works’ Program Coordinator to sustain educational activities
and programs. Meeting minutes will be recorded to review and evaluate recycling program progress.
The Superintendent directs all district personnel to implement a materials recycling program in the Danvers
Schools.
Adopted this eleventh day of March, 2013
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13. District-Wide School Recycling Tasks
• Create School Recycling Implementation Plan
for each school – modify to fit school culture
• Inventory/Purchase/Distribute Equipment
needed for each school
• Create/Purchase/Post Educational Materials &
Signage in schools
• Start/expand Collection of Recyclables in
schools
13

14. Phase 1 – Elementary Schools
Program Budget
FY 1 ending June 30, 2013 – Elementary Schools
Expenses Description Total Costs
Personnel/Professional Services
Teacher stipend for after school program
$640 x 5
$3,200
Equipment/Capital Improvements
22 gallon bins $8.75 x 266 $2,327.50
Promotion/Outreach
Educational Materials/Posters/Signage
$280 x 5
$1,400
Programming $250 x 5 $1,250
Other
Indirect expenses for after school program
- Buses, supplies, prizes
- $300 x 5
$1,500
Total Project
Budget
$9,677.50
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15. Phases 2 & 3 – Middle & High Schools
Program Budget Fiscal Years 2 & 3
FY 2 & 3 ending June 30, 2015 – Middle & High Schools
Expenses Description Total Costs
Personnel/Professional Services
Teacher stipend for after school program
$1,200 x 2
$2,400
Equipment/Capital Improvements
Waste Watcher Body Slim 23 gallon bins
52 x $48.50
$2,522.00
Lids – 52 x $30.07 $1,563.64
Compost Bins – 5 x $53 $265.00
Promotion/Outreach
Educational Materials/Posters/Signage
$292.43 x 2
$560
Programming $250 x 2 $500
Other
Indirect expenses for programs
- Buses, supplies, prizes
- $300 x 2
$600
Total Project
Budget
$8,435.50 15

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Great Oak Highlands Riverside Smith Thorpe Middle School High School Totals Unit Price Cost
Principal Matt Fusco Liz Matthews Violetta Powers Kate Clark Rita Ward
Current # of Town issued Recycling Bins 10 20 22 4 60 0 116
# rooms that use bins 29 36 30 22 70 78 265
# Recycling Bins needed to make 2 per room* 48 52 38 0 40 80 156 414
- Deskside (3 gallon) 29 44 30 0 22 70 12 207 $4.27 $883.89
- Large (18 gallon) 19 8 8 0 18 10 78 141 $8.25 $1,163.25
Total # of bins per school after purchase 58 72 60 0 44 140 90** 374
Hallway Bins (Waste Watcher Slim 23 gallon) 0 0 0 10 0 18 24 52 $48.50 $2,522.00
Hallway Lids (23 gallon) 0 0 0 10 0 18 24 52 $30.07 $1,563.64
# stickers needed for bins (if not hot stamped)? 29 44 30 0 22 70 12 207
# signs needed throughout school 5 5 5 5 5 25
# Toters In Use 4 4 5 3 4
Cardboard Dumpster in use N N Y N N
Frequency of emptying classroom bins 1x/wk 1x/wk All week 1x/wk 1x/wk
Frequency of curbside recycling pickup per week 1 1 1 1 1
Is there a “Green Team” at your school Student Council
Student Council
& Learning
Center
Student Council Student Council Student Council
Kara Haiben Seth Kleinman Walter Pohle
Kristen Carlson Ruth Sidhly Melanie Pyle
Trash pickup days M/Th M/Th F W Tu
Custodian Wayne Steve Chaisson Brian Ortins Ken Gauthier
Other Costs: Die Plate $280.00
GRAND TOTAL: $6,412.78
Costs taken from State Contract FAC61 through 9/30/2013 - Busch Systems International, Inc.
*Total # of 22 gallons bins to purchase: 266 per grant (7 schools) - $2,327.50
**High School will only have 1 bin per room. Previously existing bins purchased by Town went missing during renovations.
Teacher who will run “Green Team” Linda Carroll
Danvers School Recycling Tracking

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• All Schools
• Middle & High Schools
• Smith Elementary

25. CAFETERIA RECYCLING
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• Pour Off Bucket
• Bottle/Can Recycling
• Paper Recycling
• Trash
• All Schools

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Placed by
pour off
bucket in
cafeterias
and by
water
fountains
near
hallway
recycling
bins

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6th Grade Art Student Calendar Contest – School Recycling

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2015 Calendar Contest Winners

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HIGH SCHOOL RECYCLING
• Student Council

36. HIGH SCHOOL RECYCLING
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37. ROADBLOCKS
• Adopting Recycling Policy in Schools took time
• Tragedy at Danvers High School in year 2
• Program Coordinator out on medical leave in
year 2
• Middle School Green Team Advisor went out
on medical leave in year 3
• Teachers working without contract
• Proposed tasks were not all completed
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38. LESSONS LEARNED
• Top down approach is key
• Allow several months for district to adopt policy
• Approach needs to fit school culture
• Find a “champion” at each school
• Involve custodians & kitchen staff from start
• Be flexible – time for teaching comes first
• Make it simple
• Be hands on
• Be persistent – Go to key people if necessary
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TA-DA! THE END
Gail Bernard, Danvers DPW Program Coordinator, gbernard@mail.danvers-ma.org