School Waste Diversion Programs in Other States

Other states have also implemented specific laws to facilitate the diversion of the school waste stream from disposal through waste prevention, recycling, and/or composting. Here are a few examples of school waste reduction programs from other states for your information and reference.

• Mandatory Programs
• Voluntary Programs
• Cities and Counties

Mandatory Programs

Arkansas
Arkansas state law requires each state agency, state college or university, county, city, and public school, in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the State Marketing Board for Recyclables to:

• Establish a source separation and recycling program for recyclables generated as a result of agency operations.
• Adopt procedures for collection and storage of recyclables.
• Make contractual or other arrangements for transportation and sale of recyclables.

Additionally, the University of Arkansas provides information and resources on how to start a school recycling program.

Connecticut
Recycling is Connecticut state law! All schools in Connecticut are required by state law to recycle the following 10 items:

• Glass and metal food and beverage containers
• Newspapers
• Corrugated cardboard
• Leaves
• Used motor oil
• Nickel-cadmium batteries
• Scrap metal
• Car batteries
• White office paper
• Grass clippings

Everyone must recycle including all public and private schools. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is concerned that if students learn it is okay not to recycle at school, they will not recycle at home. District-wide recycling and waste prevention programs provide students "laboratories" to test their knowledge and skills by actively taking part in managing their resources.

Kentucky
Kentucky state law requires each local board of education to adopt a plan and procedures for recycling white paper and cardboard in all board-owned and operated facilities.

New Jersey
Recycling has been mandatory in New Jersey since 1987. Since, school recycling programs require special-planning and careful implementation if they are to become a lasting part of a student's educational experience, the Association of New Jersey Recyclers developed a Recycling Manual for New Jersey Schools to guide key school personnel step-by-step through the process of setting up a recycling program. It provides all the necessary tools for designing and implementing a viable and comprehensive program in public, private and parochial schools.

Nevada
In Nevada, each school district is required to recycle the paper and paper products it uses. Specifically, the board of trustees is required to adopt rules to prescribe the procedure for the recycling of paper and paper products and may prescribe a procedure for the recycling of other waste material produced on the premises of the schools and the administrative offices of the school district. Any money received by the school district for recycling paper and paper products it uses must be paid by the board of trustees for credit to the general fund of the school district.

New York
Public and private schools, institutions of higher education and any other educational institutions in New York State are required to recycle materials collected in their local recycling program. Each municipality was required by Chapter 70, Laws of New York 1988, to have a recycling law or ordinance requiring source separation of recyclables by September 1, 1992. The municipalities developed a recycling program that fit their needs and met the goals established by the State. Each municipality has their own penalties or fines for those people who do not recycle.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sponsors the "Green Schools" Challenge to recognize those schools that are working towards responsible solid waste management by developing waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and/or buy recycled products and packaging programs.

Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) requires public and private schools, institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania and any other educational institutions to recycle where buildings are located in mandated municipalities, as defined by Act 101 of 1988, the "Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act." At a minimum, high-grade office paper, corrugated paper and aluminum must be recycled. Additional materials such as glass, newsprint, plastics, steel and bimetallic cans, and leaf waste may be required by each municipality.

The PDEP provides recycling program technical assistance to schools, including information on implementing recycling programs at sporting events, how to conduct waste audits and links to other useful resources. This site includes a "Recycling Goes to School" video showing several schools’ exchange/reuse, recycling, and composting programs.

Rhode Island
In 1986, Rhode Island became the first state to pass mandatory recycling legislation. The first recycling programs were started in 1988 as a joint effort between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. The materials collected for recycling from this standard program are: glass containers, tinned steel cans, aluminum cans, foil, and pie plates, "#2" HDPE plastic milk/water jugs, "#1" PETE soda bottles, and newspapers (placed inside) brown paper grocery bags." The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation promotes school recycling via Rhode Island Schools Recycle Club as a means to comply with these mandatory recycling regulations.

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Voluntary Programs

Maine
Maine provides tools and resources for students to start recycle clubs on campus. On the Maine State Planning Office website there is access to information on starting recycling programs, becoming a green community and campus, as well as educational material on the lifecycle of solid waste and the benefits of recycling.

Maryland
Maryland’s Department of the Environment directs inquiries on school recycling to county recycling coordinators, encouraging the importance of communication between the school district and the local government. The department website provides links on how to start an aluminum recycling program at your school, a guide to paper recycling at school, as well as information on plastics recycling.

Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection offers recycling assistance to schools via its Green Team program, curriculum and activities, and displays and presentations.

Montana
Per Montana’s Department of Environmental Protection, every year the Recycle Montana Association distributes a Fun Book to elementary students across Montana that describes current recycling issues. Headwaters Recycling Cooperative supports the Woodsy-the-Owl recycling education program that sends a speaker into classrooms to interact directly with children and encourage recycling. In addition to these programs, educators and school administrators find the State’s Manual for Implementing a School Recycling Program helpful.

New Hampshire
The School Recycling Club assists New Hampshire schools in implementing, maintaining and improving recycling programs! The Club is housed and managed by the Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA).

The program gives new or existing school groups a chance to join a program that will help them promote or advance their efforts, network with other school groups, and stimulate school recycling, reducing waste and saving energy.

• The School Recycling Club can help with:
• The latest news in the school recycling community;
• Gain recognition for your school's recycling efforts;
• Receive technical assistance for school recycling; and
• Access multiple grant opportunities!

The School Recycling Club has over 230 member schools and over 85,000 participating students.

North Carolina
The State of North Carolina’s School Recycling Program provides information and resources to facilitate in the development of successful waste reduction programs. They also have results from a 2006 survey about the day-to-day operations of recycling programs in North Carolina schools.

Oregon
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the Association of Oregon Recyclers, created the Waste Reduction Awareness Program (WRAP) in 1993. The purpose of the program is to recognize and reward schools and individuals whose efforts have addressed solid waste problems and resulted in reduced or more efficient use of materials.

The program seeks school waste reduction programs that are permanently integrated into both school operations and classroom curricula. We would like to promote the winning schools as models for others. Awards of $500.00 are presented to winners in each category to enhance their efforts.

Additionally, Oregon Green Schools helps schools conduct waste audits, provide guidance and training for new programs and recommend curriculum resources and grant opportunities.

The Oregon Office of Energy also provides resources for schools.

Virginia
The Virginia Recycling Association publishes a School Recycling Toolkit including, a guide to school recycling, vendors by region, template letter to school district administration and city officials as well as recent school recycling survey data.

Washington
Washington state law requires the development of a voluntary awards program to achieve waste reduction and recycling in the public schools, grades K-12. For law details, see the Washington State Legislature website, including:

• Title 70: Public Health and Safety.
• 70.95C: Waste Reduction.
• 70.95C.120: Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards Program in K-12 Schools.

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School Waste Reduction Programs in Cities and Counties in Other States

Saint Paul, Minnesota
Recycling in Saint Paul is mandatory at all properties, including institutional, commercial, and residential. The City ordinance states that at least three materials must be recycled by each institution, business, and household, including schools.

New York City, New York
All New York City schools and institutions are required by law to recycle. Recyclable materials must be kept separate from garbage and set out for collection on the neighborhood’s Recycling Day. For more school and institutional information see the New York City web site.

Portland, Oregon
Metro is the directly elected regional government that serves more than 1.3 million residents in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, and the 24 cities in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Metro provides waste reduction education for schools, including recycling assistance to ensure resources for the future. Additionally, Metro has partnered with the Oregon Green Schools Association to assist schools in setting up and maintaining successful waste reduction programs. This statewide nonprofit program was established as a cooperative effort among local governments and waste haulers to formally recognize schools for their waste reduction achievements.

Seattle, Washington
The Seattle Public Schools have been recycling since 1989 and has made a commitment to recycling and environmental education by:

• Retaining a full-time District Recycling Coordinator.
• Devoting resources and equipment to the recycling program.
• Encouraging stewardship projects.
• Incorporating curriculum activities in the classroom.
• Changing waste management practices.

Seattle Public Schools has taken initiative and created an easy-to-use Recycling Toolkit (Adobe PDF, 413 KB) on how to begin a recycling program in your school.

Chittenden County, Vermont
Recycling is mandatory for all residents, businesses, and school institutions in Chittenden County, Vermont. The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) provides elementary, middle, and high schools recycling bins and posters at no charge. Their site provides information and tips about promoting recycling in schools.

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