INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

THE BENEFITS OF

WASTE PREVENTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

WASTE REDUCTION

PROGRAMS THAT WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

STEPS FOR STARTING A

WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

CASE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
1

No matter how you live, work, and

play, everyone produces waste.

We can control this waste by

reducing, reusing, and recycling it.

While many people already recycle

products at home, waste reduction

opportunities exist anywhere we have

waste. Recycling is one way to reduce

waste; reusing products is another.

Products that can be reused and recycled

are countless, and include everything from

paper to clothing to worn-out electronics.

Some examples of the many items we can

reuse include clothing, school supplies, and

sports and electronic equipment.The items

we most commonly recycle are paper,

aluminum, glass, steel, cardboard, and 

yard waste.

Most waste reduction efforts save money,

energy, and natural resources, and can

teach children and young adults how 

solid waste affects their lives and their

environment.

Schools and Groups =

Waste Reduction

Opportunities

Organized groups have a tremendous

opportunity to operate waste reduction

programs. School-related groups might

include science classes, environmental clubs,

and parent-teacher organizations. Other

groups might include Girl and Boy Scouts,

Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, or Future

Farmers.These groups can often educate

the whole community about the benefits of

waste reduction and encourage everyone to

make waste reduction a part of their

everyday life styles. Increasing the flow of

reusable and recyclable materials can even

generate extra funds for school

departments and groups.
2

The economic and environmental

benefits of waste reduction (which

includes preventing waste, reusing,

and recycling) accrue both locally and

globally.These activities can:

• Prevent pollution created by

manufacturing new products or

products made from virgin materials.

• Save energy in manufacturing,

transportation, and disposal of

products.

• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions,

which contribute to global climate

change.

• Conserve natural resources such as

timber, water, metals, and fossil fuels.

• Reduce the need for landfilling and

incineration, which are expensive to

operate and maintain.

• Protect and expand U.S. manufacturing

jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.

• Help sustain the environment for future

generations.

Nearly 70 million

tons of materials

were recycled or

composted in

2000. Help add to

that number by

recycling at least

one pound of

waste per day.

Be Part of the

Solution
3

The following options for waste

reduction programs are some

suggested methods that work for

others.After evaluating your needs,

capabilities, and goals, choose the option

that works best for you.

• One-time or periodic reuse or

recycling drives

• Continually operating reuse or

recycling programs

• Stationary or mobile collection

centers

• Sponsored waste reduction

programs

• Credit accounts at local recycling

or materials collection centers.

After assessing these options, use the

worksheets on pages 11 and 12 to help

you get started.

You Are Unique

The ideas in this handbook require

various levels of commitment and

support. Depending on the nature of your

school or organization, you will have

different needs and considerations in

terms of storage, space, time,

commitment, types of materials collected,

costs and level of interest and

participation.As you consider various

waste reduction options, think carefully

about your overall capabilities to meet

your program’s goals.Also, keep in mind

that you might run into issues specific to

your school or group that need to be

resolved before you can begin a program.
4

Conduct one-time or

periodic reuse or recycling

drives

Students and groups can establish one-time

or periodic drives to collect reusable and

recyclable items. Reusable items, such as

clothing, books, toys, computers, and other

electronic equipment, or recyclable

materials, such as paper, aluminum, glass,

and plastic, can be brought to a drop-off

location on an appointed day or days.

A reuse program might involve:

• Swapping with one another on site.

• Donating the collected materials to a

specific beneficiary, such as a library,

shelter, or charitable organization.

• Selling the collected materials at a

community yard sale and using the

profit for school or group activities.

(These drives are also sometimes part

of a national, state, or local government

campaigns.)

• Collecting materials for a commercially

sponsored “take-back” program.

A recycling program might involve:

• Having your local recycling center 

collect the materials and transport

them back to the center for processing.

• Arranging for adult volunteers to take

the collected materials to the recycling

center.

• Hiring a hauler for transportation.

Seasonal Products

Collect Christmas trees and recycle them

into mulch. Use the mulch to help offset

landscaping costs in green spaces at your

school or group’s location.Alternatively, you

can donate the mulch to nursing homes or

other organizations for their use. If you

collect enough trees, you can also consider

selling the mulch for fund-raising. Keep in

mind that you will need to rent

mulching/shredding equipment from your

home improvement store, unless you can find

someone to loan a free machine to a good

cause! And remember, only an adult can

operate such equipment.
5

If you have a community waste reduction

or recycling coordinator, be sure to

coordinate with them on this process.

This option does not require long-term

storage space, but it does require extra

space in people’s homes for collecting

materials before they are brought to the

collection location.

Establish a continually

operating reuse or recycling

program

Many different kinds of permanent reuse 

or recycling programs exist, with different

options for funding, supplies, and services.

Student-run clubs, local or state

government programs, or nonprofit

institutions are all possible sources of

support for your program. For this kind 

of program, your school or group needs

collection bins and storage space for the

reusable or recyclable materials, which 

also should be picked up regularly by a

designated hauler.

Even though a long-term reuse or 

recycling program requires careful planning

and continuous outreach, it can also offer

great rewards. Such a program allows

participants to see the results of their

collection efforts on a daily or weekly

basis. Depending on how the program 

is set up, students might even run the

program, with adult supervision.An 

in-school or outside group program also

greatly encourages people to make waste

reduction part of their daily routine.

Many students

leave school 

supplies in their

lockers at the 

end of the year 

or dispose of 

them at home.

Instead of 

throwing these

items away,

regularly 

collect them for 

a community 

sale or donation

drive. Some of

these materials

can be very 

useful to 

others.

School 

Supplies
6

Establish a stationary or

mobile collection center

Because schools often serve as focal points

for local residents, they are ideal for

stationary reuse and recycling drop-off

points.A storage facility where people can

drop off their reusable and recyclable

products should be put in an easily

accessible holding area, such as a parking

lot.You can either arrange for pickup of the

collected items by a local recycling center

or hauler or enlist volunteers to transport

the collected materials to a nearby recycling

center or charity. For some very specific

materials, such as computers and other

electronics, you might need to make special

arrangements with a manufacturer or

business that collects those particular items

(sometimes called “take-back programs”).

Schools in smaller communities or rural

areas can also serve as mobile recycling

centers. Smaller schools or groups can

make arrangements to share a trailer that

travels to different locations. For example,

the trailer can be borrowed from a

recycling center for a special fund-raising

activity.

Since these waste reduction programs

directly involve the community and depend

heavily on the support of its residents, be

sure to widely publicize your efforts to

maximize participation. Post a schedule of

the trailer’s stops in schools, in area stores,

and on the Internet.

Composting

Composting is an age-old practice with

modern-day applications that appeals 

to people of all ages. Composting is the

controlled biological decomposition 

of organic material, such as food scraps or

lawn trimmings. It is also a waste reduction

method.

Collecting certain food scraps and 

yard trimmings significantly reduces 

the amount of waste that needs to be

disposed of or otherwise managed. Compost

can be used as a soil additive to improve soil

texture, increase the ability of soil to absorb

air and water, suppress weed growth,

decrease erosion, reduce the need to apply

commercial soil additives, and degrade some

toxic materials in the soil.

Many municipalities collect compostable

materials, such as yard and food scraps, paper,

and coffee grounds and filters, instead of

disposing of the waste.This technique may

require more time, commitment,

management, supervision, and space than

other waste reduction programs discussed in

this handbook, but it is a viable option proven

to be successful in schools, groups, and

communities.Your school or group should

work closely with your community leaders

before beginning this kind of waste reduction

program. Lawn businesses can also collect

yard waste and conduct their own

composting program. For more detailed

information on composting, visit

<www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non_hw/compost/>

or <www.compostingcouncil.org>.
7

You will need storage space at each pickup point where reusables or recyclables

can be collected until the trailer arrives.

Arrange for convenient locations, such as

grocery store parking lots, to temporarily

park the trailer, and establish regular

deposit schedules with your local

recycling facility.

Team up with a sponsor

for waste reduction

programs 

Corporate or government organizations

sometimes sponsor reuse or recycling

drives or donate money or supplies to

start a waste reduction program.

Corporate sponsors may be good

sources for funding and advertising, but

you might have to follow their guidelines

and have the sponsor’s name associated

with your school or group.

Through EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling” 

program, companies that manufacture and

sell consumer electronics are teaming up

with government agencies to increase the

opportunities Americans have to reuse or

recycle their old electronics and motivate

them to make use of these opportunities.

Your school or group may be able to

spread the word about these

opportunities, or may be welcome

volunteers at some events. See the

“Resources” section for more

information.

Do you have any

old computers, cell phones, stereo

equipment, televisions,VCRs, PDAs,

video games, or other electronic equipment

sitting around in your home? Believe it or not,

these items, as well as other pieces of electronic

equipment, can be recycled and refurbished for

reuse in your schools and community

organizations.You can help by partnering with

your local government or community groups on

their electronics recycling efforts.

To learn more about e-cycling and ways you can

contribute to the safe reuse and recycling of

electronics, see EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling Event

Tool Kit.” Offering valuable guidance on planning,

funding, staffing, and collecting and reporting, the

kit is intended to provide interested individuals

with easy-to-act-on information, helping them plan

successful recycling collection events for

consumer electronics.

The Event Tool Kit provides valuable information

about:

• Your first steps in planning an event

• Necessary tasks to complete before the

event

• Things you need to know about the day of

the event

• Important post-event tasks

To learn more about EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling”

Program, and to view an online version of the

“Plug-In To eCycling Event Tool Kit,” visit

<www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

osw/conserve/plugin/toolkit.htm>.
8

Establish a “credit

account” with a local

recycling center 

If a school or group establishes a “credit

account” with a local recycling center, the

monetary value of any recyclables

dropped off there will be added to that

account. Students and others can drop off

recyclables and have the proceeds of

those items posted to that account.That

means your school or group will receive

the money from those recyclables.

Promoting the school or group that will

be the recipient of the recycling effort is

important as a motivator for participation

and to ensure that credit is properly

given to the organization. Classroom

activities and publicity reinforce recycling

lessons and increase participation. If

storage space is a problem for your

location, you might want to consider this

type of program.

Paper: If you collect paper for recycling, be

sure you are collecting it properly. Contact

your municipal solid waste management agency

or your local recycling center, and follow their

specific guidelines on collecting and sorting.

Your diligence in sorting will ensure that the

paper is not only recyclable but also

marketable to companies that can turn it into

recycled-content products.

Glass: Regardless of color, most glass food

and beverage containers are 100 percent

recyclable and can be reused an infinite

amount of times. Some glass products, such as

windows, mirrors, drinking glasses, dishes, and

light bulbs, cannot be recycled.

Be sure to find out if your local recycling

center has any restrictions regarding

separation of colors before you start collecting

glass for recycling.Also check with the center

about metal tops and rings.

Metals: Different metals require different

recycling processes.Two of the most common

metals that are recyclable from schools are

aluminum cans and steel (actually tin-coated

steel) cans.An easy way for students to

separate steel from aluminum is to hold a

magnet to them. Magnets won’t stick to

aluminum. If you plan to collect mixed metals,

you might be able to borrow magnetic sorting

tables from a can recycling company. Check

with your local recycling center or solid waste

agency.

Plastics: Different types of plastic are

chemically different and are, therefore, recycled

differently. Schools commonly generate two

types of recyclable plastic: polyethylene

terephthalate (PET) and high-density

polyethylene (HDPE). Check with your local

recycling center or solid waste agency to find

out which types of plastic are accepted.

Recycling Ideas
9

The most successful reuse and recycling

programs follow a series of steps, as

follows:

Select the type of waste reduction 

program that works best for your

group.

Organize a team.

Decide what materials to collect.

Identify viable end uses or markets for

your materials.

Work out a budget.

Contact your local authorities for

assistance.

Establish a system for collecting and

storing materials.

Educate your school and group about

the waste reduction program.

Set overall and individual goals.

Reward participants.

Safety First

Remember to consider safety issues when

deciding what kind of waste reduction

program you want to run. For example, if

you are holding a glass recycling program at

an elementary school, make sure glass

recyclables are safely contained and handled

by adults. Middle and high school students

are probably able to manage these products

safely with the proper equipment. Be sure

to wear heavy gloves and goggles while

handling glass recyclables.Also be sure to

wash glass products before adding them to

the recycling bin to avoid bugs, odors, and

rodents.Also make sure that everyone,

including students participating in the

program, is covered by the appropriate and

necessary insurance in case of accidents.
10

Step 1:

SELECT THE TYPE OF WASTE REDUCTION

PROGRAM THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOUR

GROUP

You can model your program after one

described in this handbook or design one

to fit your schools and group’s needs.

Because the success of your waste 

reduction program will depend on the

level of interest and enthusiasm in your

school or group, let others help you make

this decision.

One possible way to measure the level of

interest in your program is to survey

students, parents, and group leaders,

asking specific questions about their

willingness to participate. Some questions

to ask might include:

• Do you know about the benefits of

reusing and recycling?

• Are you willing to keep reusable and

recyclable materials at home?

• Are you able to bring reusable and

recyclable material to school or

another drop-off location?

• Can you donate your time to

volunteer for the program?

• Can you contribute money or donate

advertising for the program?

After the survey has been completed, you

can use the results to gauge which type

of collection program might work best

for your school or group.

Step 2:

ORGANIZE A TEAM

A good team will help the program run

smoothly. Besides being responsible for

program planning, publicity, and

operations, the team structure makes

waste reduction fun.The team can include

students, parents, teachers, custodians, or

other volunteers.A strong team leader is

essential for generating support and

enthusiasm for the waste reduction

program.A student leader, department

director, club sponsor, or teacher, whose

program benefits from the waste

reduction effort, is a good choice for

team leader. In fact, anyone interested in

protecting the environment by reusing or

recycling will probably do a great job!

Step 3:

DECIDE WHAT MATERIALS TO COLLECT

Deciding what materials to collect for

reuse and recycling is an important initial

step.You might know of a particular

material or product that is generated in

large quantities that can easily be reused

or recycled, and you might want to focus

your entire program on that one

material.You might decide to address a

once-a-year issue, such as Christmas

trees or old telephone books. Or, you

might want to address an issue that is 

not handled by your municipal recycling

program, such as batteries or electronic

equipment.
11

When deciding what materials you want

to include in your reuse or recycling

program, first consider what programs

are already underway in your area. Use

the worksheet below to help you. Next,

consider materials that you know you

can sell, donate, or otherwise 

deposit at a municipal recycling center.

Participating in a community waste

reduction program is only part of the

reusing and recycling process. For reuse

to succeed, materials must be donated or

sold to people or organizations that will

use the material. For recycling to succeed

fully, recyclable materials must be sold to

a company that can process them into

new products, and those products must

be purchased and used.

Paper, bottles, jars, and cans are some of

the most commonly collected items in

municipalities, schools, and groups.

Detailed information on collectible

commodities can be found at:

<www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

non-hw/recycle/jtr/comm/index. htm>.

Step 4:

IDENTIFY VIABLE END USES AND

MARKETS FOR YOUR MATERIALS

Before you embark on a collection effort,

you need to identify a “home” or market

for the materials you will collect.

Remember the adage,“one person’s trash

is another person’s treasure.” You might

not have any more use for a product, but

chances are, someone else does.

Before beginning any type of reuse or recycling program, assess what types of programs are already underway in your 

area.You can use the sample worksheet below to determine whether it is feasible or necessary to start another reuse 

or recycling program.

Sample Assessment of Current Reuse and Recycling Programs Already Underway in Your Area

1. What agencies/organizations/companies are already collecting reusables/recyclables? ___________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact names and phone numbers: __________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What materials are collected for reuse? _______________________________________________________________

3. What materials are collected for recycling?_____________________________________________________________

4. How is collection conducted? (e.g., curbside pickup, drop-off points) ________________________________________

5. Is your school or group already participating in a reuse or recycling program? ________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

How does participation work?_______________________________________________________________________

6. What are future area plans for collection of reusables/recyclables?__________________________________________
12

Knowledge of your own community’s

resources can be your first step to locating

an end use for reusable materials. Libraries,

charities, schools, community centers, or

even local businesses might be places to

donate or sell used materials.The local

phone book and the Internet are good

resources for material markets as well.

Look in the yellow pages under recycling,

charities, waste paper, and salvage or scrap

dealers. If your area government already

collects some materials and has a local

municipal, tribal, or county recycling

coordinator, that person can help you find

markets for your reusable and recyclable

materials.You might also contact your state

environmental agency for assistance in

locating viable markets.

Once you have identified a market for 

your reusable and recyclable materials,

find out what services they have; how 

and when they pay; if, and how often, they

collect items; and whether they transport

the materials.The highest price per pound

might not always be the only thing to

consider if you have to transport 

products yourself.

The sample form on this page can help you

determine items that might be good

candidates for reuse or recycling by your

school or group.

Reuse/Recycling Candidate Form

1. Candidate materials for reuse:

____________________________________________________

Candidate materials for recycling:

____________________________________________________

2. Amount available for reuse:

____________________________________________lbs/month

Amount available for recycling:

____________________________________________lbs/month

3. Approximate net selling price for reusables:

_____________________________________________$/month

Approximate net selling price for recyclables:

_____________________________________________$/month

4. New costs for group to collect or reuse:

_____________________________________________$/month

New costs for group to recycle:

_____________________________________________$/month

5. Estimated net revenues (Item 2 x Item 3 - Item 4)

Reuse: ________________________________________$/month

Recycling: _____________________________________$/month

6. Estimated savings from current practice 

(Item 2 x current hauling cost)

Reuse: ________________________________________$/month

Recycling: _____________________________________$/month

7. Net gain or less (Item 5 + Item 6) 

Reuse: ________________________________________$/month

Recycling: _____________________________________$/month

8. Subjective factors

Consider these questions for each material on the candidate list:

• Is this material consistent with community solid waste management plans? YES NO

• Is there a market for this material (paying market or recipient)?

YES NO

• Is reuse/recycling compatible with other reuse/recycling programs

for this item in the school/group?

YES NO

• Are the equipment needs and methods for collection for this

item “reasonable” and sustainable?

YES NO

• Will reusing/recycling this item have a significant environmental

benefit? YES NO

• Are there any items that can be collected or donated for free?

YES NO
13

Step 5:

WORK OUT A BUDGET

Setting up and operating a waste reduction

program costs money.These costs often can

be recovered from your reuse and recycling

revenues. Find out if your school, group, or

sponsor’s budget can cover the launch and

possibly some operating costs. Look for

funding sources, such as your parent-teacher

organization, local service clubs, local civic or

church groups, local businesses or sponsors,

or the student body general fund.

Possible costs might include:

• Supplies and equipment

• Transportation of materials

• Facility construction, maintenance, and/or

rental

• Storage space rental

• Insurance

• Utilities

• Advertising

• Labor wages

Step 6:

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR

ASSISTANCE

Because local ordinances might apply to waste

reduction programs, you should contact your

local authorities before starting your

program. If you’re considering any type of inRecycling

Requires

Recyclers

Remember that your

school or schoolrelated group can only

recycle materials

accepted by your local

recycling facility or by

other entities, such as

manufacturers. Make 

a list of items you

would like to recycle

and then call your

recycling center or

other sources to verify

that they will accept

those items.
14

school program, check with the fire

marshal, school administrators, and building

superintendents regarding storage

containers and collection do’s and don’ts.

Paper recycling, for example, might have

specific requirements to prevent fire

hazards.You might also check with local

solid waste management officials to see if

your area can get credit for your group’s

waste reduction efforts when applying for

state tonnage grants. If so, you’ll need to

keep records about the types and weights

or volumes of your reusable and recyclable

materials.

Be careful not to compete with other local

organizations that regularly conduct waste

reduction programs. Existing volunteer

groups (such as a Girl or Boy Scout Troop)

that conduct waste reduction drives might

depend on the program for money and

goodwill.When possible, try to combine

your resources and efforts with theirs.

Step 7:

ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING

AND STORING MATERIALS

An efficient collection program is simple

and well-organized. Depending on the type

of program, you should designate logical

deposit locations, either within or around

your drop-off location.You should also

acquire, label, and place appropriate

containers for the collected materials.

If you store reusable and recyclable

materials at school, you’ll need ample

Reuse Ideas

Books: Instead of tossing your

old books, consider establishing a

book swap in your school or

community. Or, take up a collection

and donate used books to a library,

nursing home, or other organization

that might want them.

Art Supplies: Organize a

collection of art supplies to use at

school, to swap among interested

students, or to donate to a needy

organization such as a homeless

shelter for families and children.

These materials can be hazardous if

sent to landfills or incinerators, so

encourage complete use or donation

of unused supplies.

Sports Equipment: You

can collect unwanted or unused

sports equipment to swap within a

school, for reuse in different schools,

or to raise money for charities.

Special Occasion

Items: Consider an annual prom

dress swap or donation drive.

Collect once-worn dresses and

donate them to other interested

schools and organizations. For more

ideas on prom dress swaps, see the

case study on page 18.
15

Recycle and Buy

Recycled Too!

Selling your recovered materials is really

only one part of the recycling process.

Recycling involves separating reusable

materials, collecting them, processing

them, making them into new usable

items, and then marketing and purchasing

the new products.When people use

products made from recycled materials,

they are “closing the recycling loop.”

Remanufactured material is critical to the

success of recycling. If material is simply

collected and stored, we cannot achieve

our ultimate goal of waste reduction.

storage space with truck access.You can use a

shed, garage, or even a receptacle specially

designed for your type of product. Smaller

spaces might need “igloo” type structures,

while larger areas might hold special

dumpster-like storage bins.

Properly separated recyclables usually will

bring higher prices.Your local recycling center

can specify how materials should be

separated. Establishing a good, long-term

relationship with your center can prevent

possible disruption of service due to

unacceptable materials.

Step 8:

EDUCATE YOUR SCHOOL, GROUP, AND

COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WASTE REDUCTION

PROGRAM

Notify the entire school, members of your

club or group, and the surrounding

community about your waste reduction

program.You should explain how it will run,

and when and where collections will occur.

You can also display examples of reusable and

recyclable materials and storage containers.

Advertising is essential to your waste

reduction program’s success.At the start of

your program, send flyers home with students

or group members to inform parents and

others of program specifics. Display posters,

make announcements, and consider having a

special assembly or presentation to kick off

the program. Send press releases to local

newspapers and radio and TV stations to

encourage the community at large to
16

participate. Run announcements in weekly

shopping circulars, local bulletins, and club

and church newsletters. Post flyers

around town in local stores. States, tribes,

and communities might help promote

your waste reduction program, so check

with officials about special publications or

presentations they might have developed

about reuse and recycling.

Step 9:

SET OVERALL AND INDIVIDUAL GOALS

Goals usually encourage people to excel.

Set a target amount of reusable and

recyclable material that you want to

reach and keep a running total

prominently displayed. Children, especially

elementary school-aged children, work

hard to reach goals if they know what is

expected.You could even set individual

goals for participants.

Step 10:

REWARD PARTICIPANTS

Your program should stress the

environmental benefits of reuse and

recycling.A reward system, however, may

provide stronger incentives to make your

waste reduction program successful.Take

into account school or group size and

available resources when establishing

rewards, so that everyone has an equal

chance of winning something.

The rewards you offer will probably

depend on your budget. In some

successful programs, the winning group

received free pizza, a zoo trip, computers,

or other new school equipment. In other

programs, participants were awarded

“Certificates of Appreciation” or earned

Scout badges. Rewards might be donated

by local businesses or bought with the

proceeds of the waste reduction

program. Individuals can be rewarded for

outstanding efforts with cash prizes or

gift certificates.
17

The following case studies provide

examples of how individuals, schools,

municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and

others have started reuse and recycling

programs in their communities.These

resources can give you ideas for how to

start the same kinds of programs with

your schools and groups.

Reuse Programs

Reusing Computer Equipment in

Atlanta, Georgia

Three 13-year-old students at

Westminster School in Atlanta, Georgia,

recognized that many community groups

and organizations needed computer

equipment that they could not afford.

At the same time, the students noted that

many businesses and individuals had

equipment that they no longer wanted 

or needed. Putting two and two together,

the students established Free Bytes,

a nonprofit organization dedicated to

providing needy organizations with

unused or discarded computer equipment

and keeping these computers out of the

waste stream. Free Bytes has been

operating since 1992.

After joining efforts with a specialinterest PC-users group in 1997, the

organization currently operates under 

the name Free Bytes NP, Inc.The

organization is still partially run by

student volunteers and has successfully

diverted more than 4,000 computers

from landfills by providing them to more

than 600 nonprofit organizations

throughout Georgia.

For more information, contact:

Timothy L. Gott, Executive Director

Free Bytes NP, Inc.

P.O. Box 550371

Atlanta, GA 30355–0371

Phone: 404 846-8414

Fax: 501 421-7903

E-mail: questions@freebyte.net

Web site: www.freebytes.org

Salvaging Usable School Supplies

in Montgomery County, Maryland

A local resident in Montgomery County,

Maryland, found a creative way to address

several educational and environmental

challenges by starting “The Drive for

Locker Supplies.” Middle schools now

hold a special drive to recover and reuse

school supplies, clothes, and other goods
18

abandoned in lockers when students

leave for the summer. Student volunteers

clean out students’ lockers at the end of

the year and usable school supplies are

delivered to needy students in other

states and overseas to countries such as

Nicaragua and the Phillippines. From the

lockers of 35 middle schools, one year’s

collection netted about $50,000 worth of

notebooks, pencils, calculators, and other

miscellaneous items, including a closet full

of unclaimed coats.

For more information, contact:

Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer

Learn Shop, Inc.

P.O. Box 1754

Wheaton, MD 20915-1754

Phone: 301 942-1074

Web site: www.learnshop.org

Sharing Business Supplies with

Schools in Portland, Oregon

SCRAP—The School and Community

Reuse Action Project—is a nonprofit

group in Portland, Oregon, that collects

reusable items from local businesses and

distributes them to area schools, families,

and children. Its mission is to keep

valuable materials out of landfills, offer

these materials at low prices, and inspire

the creative reuse of materials.

SCRAP holds an annual “Back to SCRAP”

festival every September, a creative

festival of reuse education, art, and music.

Educators are invited to come and find

inspiration for lessons by perusing the

creative reuse of materials showcased.

For more information, contact:

Teri Thomas Petersen

SCRAP 3625-B

North Mississippi Ave.

Portland, OR 97227

Phone: 503 294-0769

E-mail: info@scrapaction.org

Donating Formal Dresses for

Proms in Reston,Virginia

In Spring 2002, Shauna Cole—director of

the Teen Program at the Reston

Community Center in Reston,Virginia—

started the center’s first Prom Dress

Giveaway. Cole wanted to help area high

school girls find the right dress for their

special night without spending several

hundred dollars at a department store.

The Community Center collected about

500 donated dresses, as well as jewelry,

shoes, and mini makeup kits, from all over

Northern Virginia.Those that were not

given away to high school girls were

donated to area clothing drives, ensuring

that someone in need received the

articles.This program not only helps to

complete a very special night for many

DC area girls, but also minimizes the

amount of materials entering the waste

stream.

Many believe this program was inspired

by Washington, DC residents Rita Bright

and Ann Oliva, who decided to open up

their closets and help out those in need.

Since 1994, Rita Bright and Ann Oliva

have given away more than 1,200 dresses

and have inspired efforts of others in

New York City, Indianapolis, and Chicago.
19

For more information, contact:

Shauna Cole

Reston Community Center

2310 Colts Neck Road

Reston,VA 22091

Phone: 703 476-4500

E-mail: shauna.cole@fairfaxcounty.gov

Refurbishing Bikes for City Kids

in San Rafael, California

In 1988,Trips for Kids, a nonprofit

organization in San Rafael, California, was

incorporated in the Bay Area by Marilyn

Price. Her goal was to give inner-city

children the opportunity to experience

the natural beauty of their environment

from the seat of a mountain bike. Since

the program’s inception, hundreds of

volunteers have helped more than 7,800

kids from 220 agencies escape the

cement and concrete and head out to 

the hills to experience a bike ride

through nature.

In 1994, the program expanded

significantly and established several other

programs, including the Re-Cyclery Bike

Thrift Shop, located in downtown San

Rafael.This program gives a second life to

used bikes, parts, and accessories, while

offering an affordable, alternative

transportation option to low-income

residents.The program’s daily activities

revolve around the three Rs - reduce,

reuse, and recycle. In 2002, the ReCyclery Program repaired and sold 572

bikes after receiving over $500,000 worth

of new and used items from individuals

and manufacturers. Many of these parts

would most likely have ended up in

landfills.The program also provides bikes,

parts, and accessories to other programs,

such as the San Quentin Prison’s bike

shop, where prisoners repair and donate

bikes to charities.

Trips for Kids became a national program

in 1999. Currently, there are 27 Trips for

Kids chapters around the United States

and Canada. Most chapters only conduct

mountain bike rides for inner city youth,

however, some have incorporated bicycle

thrift shops modeled after the Re-Cyclery

Program.

For more information, contact:

Marilyn Price, Founder/Director

Trips For Kids

610 4th Street

San Rafael, CA 94901

Phone: 415 458-2986

E-mail: tfkbike@pacbell.net

Web site: <www.tripsforkids.org>

Recycling Programs

Operating An Award-Wining

Recycling Program in Broward

County, Florida

The Broward County School Board in

Florida operates an award-winning

recycling program that relies on three

main elements: collection, education, and

tracking. Collection at more than 200

participating schools and offices is

accomplished through in-school

cooperation between student volunteers
20

and custodial staff who empty recycling

bins into dumpsters for weekly pick-up

through several private contracts with

collection companies. Broward County

also initiated a number of innovative

educational programs including

workshops for facilities workers, a

recycling fair, and recycling career days.

The program measures its success by

tracking data, such as the number of

pounds collected, and conducting annual

waste audits.

For more information, contact:

Broward County School System

Phone: 954 765-7031

Web site: www.co.broward.fl.us/

iwi03300.htm

Developing a Comprehensive

School Recycling Program in

Calico Rock,Arkansas

Calico Rock High School in Calico,

Arkansas, founded a recycling program

that has, as of 2003, prevented 26,880

pounds of cardboard, plastic bottles, and

paper from being thrown away.The

school estimates that this effort saved

93,800 gallons of water, 228 trees, 44.4

cubic yards of landfill space, and 54,940

kilowatt hours of electricity. During the

1997-1998 school year, CRHS recycled

544+ pounds of aluminum cans.This

averaged 15.1 pounds per week (2.2

pounds per day) which saved enough

electricity to power a television for over

two years.The program was funded by an

Excellence in Recycling Award grant from

the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation

in 1997 and was granted another $1,000

award the following year to expand to

both campuses, as well as both cafeterias.

The school also used their second grant

to set up a recycling center for the

community on its elementary school

campus.This center now has over 20

volunteers and is open to the public two

days per week, with their recyclables

picked up weekly by Tri-County Recycling

Center of Ash Flat. Items accepted

include white paper, newspaper,

corrugated cardboard, pasteboard,

magazines, #1 and #2 plastics, steel cans,

and aluminum cans.

For more information, contact:

Rachel Faulkner

Calico Rock High School

301 College Street

P.O. Box 220

Calico Rock,AK 72519

Phone: 870 297-3745

Web site: http://pirates.k12.ar.us/crhs/

academics.htm (then follow the links to

Science, then Recycling Project or Calico

Rock Recycling Drop-Off Center)

Raising Money Through Recycling

in Clark, New Jersey

The Clark-Winfield Girl Scouts (CWGS)

in Clark, New Jersey, learned that

recycling awareness not only keeps

materials out of landfills and saves

valuable natural resources for future

generations, but it can also generate a

wealth of funds through collective action.
21

The CWGS has participated in The Great

Aluminum Can RoundUP since 1993 and,

with the Clark Volunteer Fire

Department, has designed a program to

recycle aluminum cans to raise muchneeded funds for the St. Barnabas Burn

Foundation program.

The Girl Scouts bring their cans to a

scheduled drop off every 2 weeks, where

they are weighed and then transported to

a local recycler by members of the Clark

Volunteer Fire Department. In less than a

year, 53 Girl Scouts collected and

recycled a total of 4,583 pounds of

aluminum cans. Since the inception of 

the program, the CWGS helped raise

more than $10,000 for the St. Barnabas

Burn Foundation.This money helps

purchase non-medical items and provide

financial assistance for the families of

young burn victims.

For more information, contact:

Clark-Winfield Girl Scouts

Janet Mannino, Service Unit Manager

12 Picton Street

Clark, New Jersey 07066

Mastering Recycling at School in

Lancaster, New York

More than 1,200 5th and 6th grade

students at Lancaster Central Schools in

Lancaster, New York, initiated a recycling

program to collect paper, cardboard, glass,

plastic bottles, and milk cartons. In

September 2002, the program began

collecting tin cans as well. Students

learned how to help collect the

recyclables from their school bins and

also are tracking their program’s

progress.To raise awareness and support,

students designed posters and helped to

submit an article to the local newspaper.

Lancaster Central Schools currently have

six schools participating in EPA’s

WasteWise program, and plans are

underway to expand the recycling

program to three more schools.The

schools have added 15 new courtyard

benches made from 100 percent recycled

plastic milk jugs, an effort that helped

prevent 24,000 plastic milk jugs from

entering landfills. In addition, Lancaster

Central Schools have begun to recycle

school furniture, such as television

brackets, that get reused as shelving units

and bench supports for team seats.

For more information, contact:

Dennis Weist

177 Central Avenue

Lancaster, NY 14086

Phone: 716 686-3209

Reducing Waste by Half in Los

Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Unified School District

Waste Reduction and Recycling Program

in California works with facility managers

to explore new methods of waste

management and recycling. Currently the

district recycles paper, toner cartridges,

and beverage containers.The school

district has successfully reduced its 

waste by 50 percent. In recognition of

these achievements, EPA presented an

Environmental Achievement Award to the

Office of Environmental Health and Safety

(OEHS) in 2002.
22

For more information, contact:

Soe Aung, Environmental Compliance

Manager

Environmental Health and Safety Branch

1449 South San Pedro Street

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: 213 743-5086

Web site: www.lalc.k12.ca.us/target/units/

recycle/lausd.html

Composting in School in San

Francisco, California

Many of San Francisco, California’s

students are no longer throwing away

their half-eaten burritos, apple cores, and

napkins. Instead, they’re composting them!

With support from the San Francisco

Foundation and the California Integrated

Waste Management Board, the San

Francisco Department of the

Environment and Sunset Scavenger have

assisted more than 30 San Francisco

schools with establishing and maintaining

organics collection programs through

education, outreach, and environmental

stewardship.

Schools that participate in the organics

program collect all food, paper, and yard

waste, which is then picked up by their

waste hauler and composted at an off-site

facility in Dixon, California.The result is a

high quality, nitrogen-rich soil amendment

that is used as fertilizer. Most importantly,

as schools reduce their landfill-bound

waste, the students learn the ABCs of

waste reduction, and have the

opportunity to apply their knowledge by

serving as peer educators and monitors

for the organics program! 

For more information, contact:

San Francisco Department of the

Environment

School Education Program

11 Grove Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: 415 355-3700 

Web site: www.sfenvironment.org

Reuse and Recycling

Programs

Competing for Waste Reduction

Solutions in New York, New York

In 2002, the New York City (NYC)

Department of Sanitation awarded

$148,000 in cash prizes to schools all

over NYC through their Golden Apple

Awards program.This program consists

of three contests for all NYC schools,

grades K-12. In each contest, schools

compete against other schools within

their grade division (elementary, middle,

and high school) to win cash prizes.The

three contests that form part of the

Golden Apple Awards include:

• TrashMasters Reduce and Reuse

Challenge:Awards cash prizes to

schools in each borough for the most

innovative and successful waste

prevention practices.
23

• TrashMasters Super Recyclers:

Rewards schools in each borough

with cash prizes for model school

recycling programs that demonstrate

a school-wide commitment to

recycling.

• TrashMasters Team Up To Clean Up:

Gives cash prizes to schools in each

borough for outstanding community

cleanup and neighborhood

beautification projects.

For more information, contact:

NYC Department of Sanitation

Golden Apple Awards

Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and

Recycling

PO Box 156

Bowling Green Station

New York, NY 10274-0156

Phone: 212-837-8259

Fax: 212-837-8162

E-mail: bwprr.nycrecycles@verizon.net 

Web: www.nyc.gov/sanitation and

www.nycwasteless.org 

Saving Money and Materials

Through Reuse and Recycling in

Pasco County, Florida

A recycling program in the Pasco County,

Florida, school district saved Pasco

County approximately $2 million over 

10 years.The program generated savings

by reducing its disposal costs (from

$600,000 to $300,000 annually) and

earning nearly $50,000 annually through

the sale and auction of scrap metal and

old equipment.Area students and

teachers supported the effort by

appointing a recycling coordinator in each

school and creating a student-led “Earth

Patrol” to monitor campus recycling and

energy conservation activities.

Currently, 25 schools in the district

participate in the “Earth Patrol” program.

Materials collected in schools for

recycling include mixed paper, aluminum

cans, corrugated cardboard, fluorescent

light bulbs and ballasts, plastic bottles,

cooking oil, pallets, seat foam, milk

cartons, toner cartridges, and household

batteries. During the 2001 to 2002 

school year, the district recycled about 

11 tons of batteries and 58 tons of milk

cartons, bringing the total to more than

1,100 tons of total recycled material. In

the fall of 2002, the district started a

Cellular Phone Recycling Contest at 

12 schools. So far they have collected a

total of 353 cell phones, which will

eventually be sent overseas for reuse.

The first place school received a $1,000

award, and the second and third place

schools each received computer

equipment for their recycling efforts.

In addition to the “Earth Patrol” program,

the Pasco County School District has

operated the Creation Station for the

past 6 years.This program transformed an

old warehouse into a reuse building that

stores leftover materials such as tiles and

fabric donated by various businesses.

Once every 2 months, the doors are

opened and school faculty members are

invited to come and take what they want
24

to be used in various arts and crafts

projects for their students.This program

not only provides inspiration for the

creative reuse of materials, but also saves

area merchants hundreds of dollars in

disposal fees.

For more information, contact:

Mary Miller

Pasco County School District

7301 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

Phone: 813 794-2752

E-mail: mmiller@pasco.k12.fl.us

Making Money Through Waste

Reduction in Seattle,Washington

During the 2001-2002 school year, a

group of Whitman Middle School special

education students in Cheryl Nixon’s

classes teamed up with Ecco Recycles

School Fundraising Program in Seattle,

Washington.The program buys back

empty inkjet toner and fax and laser

cartridges, and pays anywhere from 50

cents to $12 per cartridge.The students

decided to take their recycling and

fundraising efforts one step further and

formed their own company, Ink, Inc.,

complete with elected officers and

business cards. In addition to learning

about the benefits of recycling and reuse

in their business, Nixon’s students learn

communication and organizational skills

through writing business letters and

public speaking.

Some of Ink, Inc.’s clients include the U.S.

Internal Revenue Service, the city of

Seattle, and IKEA.The Whitman students’

success was recently featured in an

October 2002 article in the Seattle

Times, and the students were given an

honorary membership to the Ballard

Chamber of Commerce. In its first school

year in business, Ink, Inc. topped $1,000 is

sales, selling roughly 500 cartridges to

Ecco Recycles.

For more information, contact:

Cheryl Nixon, Special Education Teacher

Whitman Middle School

9201 15th Ave NW

Seattle,WA 98117

Phone: 206 252-1231

E-mail: showbizkidz@aol.com
25

EPA Publications for

Teachers, Students, and

the Community

The following EPA materials for

teachers, students, and the

community provide information on

waste reduction; present ideas for

classroom, after-school, and extra-credit

activities; and provide lesson plans and

school projects.

Unless otherwise indicated, these

materials are available on the Internet 

at either <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

education/teachers.htm> or

<www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/

publicat.htm> or can be ordered for 

free by calling the RCRA Call Center 

at 800 424-9346.

• The Make a Difference Kit:Your Life,

Your World,Your Choices 

(EPA530-E-03-001) 

A resource package of materials to

encourage teens in grades 7 to 12 to

make informed decisions in their

everyday lives. Contents include:

The Life Cycle of a CD or DVD

(EPA530-H-03-002)

A colorful poster showing the

product life cycle of a CD or DVD

from production through

recycling/reuse/ disposal. Includes

classroom and after school activities.

Service Learning: Education Beyond

the Classroom (EPA530-K-02-001)

Describes how kindergarten through

12th grade students across the

country are gaining hands-on

awareness of waste reduction,

recycling, and composting, through

solid waste service-learning projects.

The projects combine knowledge with

service and personal reflection.

A Collection of Solid Waste Resources

(EPA530-C-02-001) (interactive 

CD-ROM)

Contains all of the electronic files for

publications and materials created by

EPA’s Office of Solid Waste, with

topics ranging from recycling and
26

municipal solid waste to home health

care, household hazardous waste,

composting, and life cycle

management.The most recent

addition also contains games and

activities for kids.

Volunteer for Change—A Guide To

Environmental Community Service

(EPA 530-K-01- 002)

Designed to assist citizens interested

in initiating environmental volunteer

projects. It includes “The ABCs of

Volunteering” as well as short

descriptions of 12 environmental

volunteer activities undertaken by

citizens across the nation.

• Science Fair Fun: Designing

Environmental Science Projects

(EPA530-K-00-008)

A short booklet intended to provide

students in grades 6 to 8 with ideas

and resources for developing

environmental science fair projects,

specifically in the areas of reducing,

reusing, and recycling waste materials.

• The Plug-In To eCycling Toolkit

www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/

conserve/plugin/toolkit.htm

Provides local governments, non-profit

organizations, electronics

manufacturers and retailers, and other

interested groups with key information

to help them stage electronics

recycling events.

Other Publications for

Schools and Groups

The following publications can provide

additional information about developing

and implementing a school or group

waste reduction program. Ordering

information is provided after each

description.

• Beyond Recycling:A Waste Reduction

Manual for Schools, Environmental

Resource Program, University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill and Office of

Waste Reduction, North Carolina

Department of Environment, Health,

and Natural Resources, undated.

A comprehensive manual on school

waste prevention and recycling, this

document covers program

management, waste assessments,

logistics, waste reduction strategies,

program maintenance, and case studies

(all drawn from North Carolina). It

provides guidance to school

administrators, teachers, staff, students,

and parents. Several worksheets and

checklists aid program implementation.

Available for free online at

<www.p2pays.org/ref/02/01432.htm>

or call 919 715-6500.

• Conducting a Waste Audit in Your

School, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Solid

Waste District.

A short step-by-step guide to

performing a school waste audit.

Administrators, teachers, students, or

activists can use the guide to evaluate

school waste.Available for free online
27

at <http://cuyahogaswd.org/pdf/

ConductingWasteAudit.pdf> or 

call 216 443-3749.

• Creating Less Trash at School,

Minnesota Office of Environmental

Assistance, undated.

A pamphlet of waste prevention ideas

for students.Available for free online

at <www.moea.state.mn.us/

campaign/download/school-2.pdf> or

call 800 632-3299 or e-mail

<reduce@moea.state.mn.us>

• Educational Resources for Waste

Management, Cornell Waste

Management Institute.

A catalog of educational materials on

the following topics: composting,

recycling, waste management,

enviroshopping, waste prevention, and

sewage sludge. Many of the resources

are suitable for schools (grades K-12).

Order various materials online at <http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/

Edresources.html> or call 

607 255-2080 or e-mail

<resctr@cornell.edu> (The Cornell

University Resource Center).

• How to Make Waste Reduction and

Recycling Happen in Your School,

Solid Waste and Financial Assistance

Program,Washington State

Department of Ecology, 1998.

A document on school waste

reduction, this publication aims to be a

“step-by-step” guide to waste

reduction for administrators.

Completed sections include general

buy-recycled tips, waste prevention

tips, and guidance on recycling

programs. Contact Michelle Payne at

<mdav461@ecy.wa.gov>.

• A Manual for Implementing School

Recycling Programs, MassRecycle (The

Massachusetts Recycling Coalition),

2002.

A detailed guide to school recycling,

this manual gives step-by-step

instructions for starting, building, and

maintaining school recycling programs.

It provides specific guidance on the

following recyclables: paper (including

white, colored, mixed, and newspaper

and magazines), corrugated cardboard,

mixed containers, aseptic packaging

(drink boxes), polystyrene, and food

waste. It also contains a number of

implementation and program

management suggestions and several

case studies.Available for free online at <www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/

recprog.doc> or call 617 292-5500

(Massachusetts Department of

Environmental Protection).

• Oregon Green School Tools,The

Oregon Department of Environmental

Quality,Waste Management and

Clean-up Division, Solid Waste Policy

& Programs Section, 1996.

A multi-purpose document for

principals, custodians, teachers,

students, parents, kitchen staff, site

councils, or school volunteers who are

working on improving the health and
28

livability of their school environment.

This publication is the toolkit for the

Oregon Green Schools initiative

(<www.oregongreenschools.org>).

The theme of this toolkit is resource

efficiency.The document is full of

information on program management,

waste assessments, student and staff

education, measurement, and program

maintenance. Detailed checklists,

step-by-step instructions, and practical

suggestions enhance the document’s

usability.Available for free online at <www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/

sw/OregonGreenSchoolTools.pdf> 

or call 503 229-5913 or e-mail

<solwaste@deq.state.or.us>.

• School Recycling Guide: Setting up

Solid Waste Recycling Programs in

Schools, Dr. J.Winston Porter for Keep

America Beautiful, Inc., 2002.

A concise, step-by-step manual for

establishing, publicizing, and maintaining

school recycling programs, this book is

written for a broad audience:

administrators, facility managers,

custodians, teachers, and students.

The guide centers on the mechanics of

recycling—waste assessment, choosing

recyclables for collection, establishing

collection procedures. It covers the

most common school recyclables:

paper, plastics, aluminum, steel, glass,

electronics, and food and yard waste.

Order online for $7.50 at

<www.kab.org/ shopKAB1.cfm>.

Material order form can be obtained

online <www.kab.org/shopKABorder2.htm>

or by e-mailing <orders@kab.org>.

Fax or mail order form to Keep

America Beautiful at 203 325-9199 or

1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT

06901.

• School Waste Reduction, California

Integrated Waste Management Board

(CIWMB).

CIWMB’s Web site for school waste

reduction is designed for school

administrators (especially district-level

administrators).The section on school

waste composition, located at

<www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/WasteRe

duce/Composition.htm>, provides

some pointers for waste assessments

and audits in schools.The subpage on

waste reduction strategies,

<www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/WasteRe

duce/Strategies.htm>, provides

extensive, practical suggestions for

waste reduction by functional area:

facilities and planning, food service,

maintenance and operations,

purchasing, technology services.

Available for free online at

<www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/

WasteReduce/>.

• Texas School Recycling Guide,Texas

Natural Resource Conservation

Commission, 2000.

A condensed guide to school recycling,

this guide highlights include practical

suggestions for education and program

maintenance, a list of school waste

prevention strategies, and a brief

discussion of school buy-recycled

activities.Available for free online at
29

<www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/

pubs/gi/gi-030_165389.pdf> or call 

512 239-0028 or e-mail

<Recycle@tnrcc.state.tx.us>.

• Waste Audit Manual, Ijams Nature

Center.

An activist’s guide to school waste

audits, this site was written by

AmeriCorps volunteers who

performed school waste audits as a

service project.They estimated total

waste by analyzing three waste

streams: cafeteria waste, classroom

waste, and office waste.Available at

<www.ijams.org/pdf/Waste%20Audit

%20Manual.PDF>.

• Waste Wise Schools Program,

EcoRecycle Victoria/Gould League.

The home page for an Australian

“Waste Wise” program for schools.

The program stresses school waste

prevention and recycling.This site

provides a library of waste reduction

checklists by functional area (general,

school administration, classroom,

cafeteria); 10 steps for waste

minimization, a page on program

management; a discussion of program

maintenance.Available at <www.sustainability.vic.

gov.au/www/html/1861-waste-wise-schools.asp>

Once your school or group’s

reuse and recycling program is

underway, consider becoming a

partner in EPA’s WasteWise program.As a WasteWise partner, you

will receive personal guidance

from your partner representative,

as well as other technical assistance in the form of bulletins and

updates.Your school or group also

will have an opportunity to be

nationally recognized for your

waste prevention activities.Any

size program is eligible for

WasteWise membership. Check it

out at: <www.epa.gov/wastewise>.
1EPA

United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency(5305W)Washington, DC 20460Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300EPA530-K-03-001July 2003

2Printed on paper that contains at least 50 percent postconsumer fiber.