Central Michigan University received a grant to develop an elementary school recycling and waste reduction program called "Recycling is Elementary" in collaboration with the Isabella County Materials Recovery Facility and five Mount Pleasant elementary schools. Over the past year, CMU has worked with the schools and facility to conduct educational assemblies, recycling competitions between the schools, and food waste audits. The data collected from these activities is being analyzed by CMU sustainability assistants. The program aims to teach elementary students about recycling and aligns with the goals of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

1. AbstractAbstract
Recycling is Elementary: Inter School Competition in
the Mt. Pleasant Public School System-Teaching the
Recyclers of Tomorrow was a grant received by
Central Michigan University to work in collaboration
with Isabella County Materials Recovery Facility
(ICMRF) and Mount Pleasant Elementary schools to
develop elementary outreach and education regarding
recycling and waste minimization from the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Over the past year,
Central Michigan University has been working closely
with five local elementary schools, Mary McGuire
Elementary, Pullen Elementary, Ganiard Elementary,
Vowels Elementary, and Fancher Elementary, and the
ICMRF to complete educational assemblies, recycling
competitions, and food waste audits. The data from
these activities has been collected and analyzed by
Central Michigan University Sustainability Assistants.
The entire Recycling is Elementary program directly
aligns with the goals of the DEQ, while also being
guided by the mission, vision, and core values of
ICMRF and CMU.
Recycling is Elementary:Recycling is Elementary: Inter School Competition in the Mt. Pleasant
Public School System-Teaching the Recyclers of Tomorrow
Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:
Faculty Advisor– Thomas K. Rohrer, Director GreatFaculty Advisor– Thomas K. Rohrer, Director Great
Lakes Institute for Sustainable Systems @ CMU,Lakes Institute for Sustainable Systems @ CMU,
College of Humanities and Social and BehavioralCollege of Humanities and Social and Behavioral
SciencesSciences
Jay Kahn- Director of Facilities OperationsJay Kahn- Director of Facilities Operations
Isabella County Materials Recovery FacilityIsabella County Materials Recovery Facility
Michigan Recycling CoalitionMichigan Recycling Coalition
Michigan Department of Environmental QualityMichigan Department of Environmental Quality
Lindsay Webb- Director of Food Services at MountLindsay Webb- Director of Food Services at Mount
Pleasant Public SchoolsPleasant Public Schools
Ginger Faber- Chief Financial Officer at Mount PleasantGinger Faber- Chief Financial Officer at Mount Pleasant
Public SchoolsPublic Schools
Mary McGuire Elementary, Pullen Elementary, GainardMary McGuire Elementary, Pullen Elementary, Gainard
Elementary, Vowels Elementary, Fancher ElementaryElementary, Vowels Elementary, Fancher Elementary
Morgan Hummon- Author of original grantMorgan Hummon- Author of original grant
Hayley Himanek- Graphic DesignerHayley Himanek- Graphic Designer
Total Waste AuditsTotal Waste Audits
Our team completed a total food waste audit at everyOur team completed a total food waste audit at every
one of the five elementary schools. In order toone of the five elementary schools. In order to
complete a total waste audit we collaborated with thecomplete a total waste audit we collaborated with the
school to choose a date that worked for us to come.school to choose a date that worked for us to come.
We started by emptying all of the large dumpstersWe started by emptying all of the large dumpsters
outside of the schools and counted all of the trashoutside of the schools and counted all of the trash
bags inside of them. Once we counted all of the trashbags inside of them. Once we counted all of the trash
bags, we took 1/3 of the bags and opened then up. Webags, we took 1/3 of the bags and opened then up. We
then sorted everything in those bags into waste,then sorted everything in those bags into waste,
compost (which was sorted into food waste scraps andcompost (which was sorted into food waste scraps and
untouched or eaten food), and recycling. Once weuntouched or eaten food), and recycling. Once we
weighed all of those totals for the sample of bags, weweighed all of those totals for the sample of bags, we
then made calculation and estimates based on thethen made calculation and estimates based on the
remaining number of bags.remaining number of bags.
RecyclingRecycling
The main portion and ideas behind the grant stemmed fromThe main portion and ideas behind the grant stemmed from
wanting to increase the recycling at the local elementarywanting to increase the recycling at the local elementary
schools. Our team traveled to each of the five schools andschools. Our team traveled to each of the five schools and
gave a presentation at a school wide assembly discussinggave a presentation at a school wide assembly discussing
recycling, its importance, why we do it, how its done, andrecycling, its importance, why we do it, how its done, and
what can be recycled. These assemblies were the kickoff towhat can be recycled. These assemblies were the kickoff to
the recycling competition among the five elementarythe recycling competition among the five elementary
schools. From then on, each school began collecting allschools. From then on, each school began collecting all
their recycling (in bins provided through the grant) and atheir recycling (in bins provided through the grant) and a
member of our team would drive to every school and collectmember of our team would drive to every school and collect
the school’s recycling every other Friday. Then the schools’the school’s recycling every other Friday. Then the schools’
recycling would be taken to Central Michigan University’srecycling would be taken to Central Michigan University’s
power house where it would be weighed and recorded.power house where it would be weighed and recorded.
From there, the recycling would be disposed of in ourFrom there, the recycling would be disposed of in our
recycling tanks that are processed at Isabella Countyrecycling tanks that are processed at Isabella County
Materials Recovery Facility. After all weights were recordedMaterials Recovery Facility. After all weights were recorded
they would be emailed to the schools so they would keepthey would be emailed to the schools so they would keep
track of their progress among the other schools.track of their progress among the other schools.
Food Waste AuditsFood Waste Audits
Our team completed a food waste audit at every one of the five elementary schools. Before the wasteOur team completed a food waste audit at every one of the five elementary schools. Before the waste
audits we collaborated with Ginger Faber and Lindsay Webb to determine what days would work bestaudits we collaborated with Ginger Faber and Lindsay Webb to determine what days would work best
with each school and what was on the menu that day. We then gathered the supplies and went to thewith each school and what was on the menu that day. We then gathered the supplies and went to the
school about 40 minutes prior to the lunch period to set up. Depending on how many different foodschool about 40 minutes prior to the lunch period to set up. Depending on how many different food
items were on the menu, that is how many trash cans we brought with us. We printed labels with eachitems were on the menu, that is how many trash cans we brought with us. We printed labels with each
of the different food items and taped them to the trash cans to make it easier for students. We set upof the different food items and taped them to the trash cans to make it easier for students. We set up
all the trash cans in a row with arrow along the floor to direct students where to go. The students wereall the trash cans in a row with arrow along the floor to direct students where to go. The students were
prefaced with instructions at the start of the day over announcements and when they arrived in theprefaced with instructions at the start of the day over announcements and when they arrived in the
lunch room. When the students were done eating they would bring all of their food waste up to us andlunch room. When the students were done eating they would bring all of their food waste up to us and
we would help them dispose of all their items in the proper area. Each food item was separated intowe would help them dispose of all their items in the proper area. Each food item was separated into
different trash cans, as well as, leftover milk was poured in a bucket, unopened or eaten foods weredifferent trash cans, as well as, leftover milk was poured in a bucket, unopened or eaten foods were
left on a share table (i.e. unopened milk, uneaten apple, etc.), and trays, trash, and waste fromleft on a share table (i.e. unopened milk, uneaten apple, etc.), and trays, trash, and waste from
packed lunches were all disposed of into a trash can for actual waste. All the separated food wastepacked lunches were all disposed of into a trash can for actual waste. All the separated food waste
items, milk, trash, and share table items were then weighed and recorded.items, milk, trash, and share table items were then weighed and recorded.
By: Matthew Belanger, Chase Delor, Jessica Hunt-Ballou, Kunal Vaishnav, Amber Van Meter
Total Waste Audit
Total percentages of waste that could have
been diverted from landfill
Mary
Mcguire Pullen Fancher Vowels Ganiard
17-Dec 26.4 10.4 11.4 9.4 13.4
18-Jan 67 38 9 17 66
18-Feb 2 16 10 15 91
18-Mar 23 0 14 9 14
Total 118.4 64.4 44.4 50.4 184.4
School’s total Recycling Weights (in pounds)
www.recycl esearch.com/michigan-directory
mixedpaper
cardboard
plastic glass
metal
Jay Kahn of CMU, Jake Borton of
ICMRF, Brian Burke of DEQ,
and Kerrin O’Brien of MRC
present recycling awards to the
principals of all the schools
involved
RinsedFruit Cups
without l id
Paper bags
strawsand
pl asticsporks
emptypl astic
water bottl es
www.recycl esearch.com/ michigan-director y
Posters created that were hung in all the
schools
Students at one of the food
waste audits
The setup at a food waste audit