NYCWasteLe$$: School Recycling

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	Recycling in Schools All schools in New York City are required by law to recycle. Campus schools that house multiple schools or programs must institute recycling collection throughout the entire building. Principals, custodians, food service staff, teachers, and students all have responsibilities to make sure that materials designated for recycling are kept separate from garbage and properly placed out for Department of Sanitation collection. To find out what Sanitation does with the recyclables it collects, go to What Happens to Recyclables? Remember, recycling properly at school teaches students their responsibilities under NYC law, helping to raise their civic and environmental awareness. Dept of Ed Recycling Coordinators How to set up your school’s recycling program School recycling program checklist Recycling decals and educational resources ALSO SEE NYC recycling law and the Department of Education Chancellor's regulations for public schools. Show us your school's recycling program! TrashMasters! Super Recyclers honors schools in each borough for model school recycling programs that comply with Department of Sanitation regulations. See Golden Apple Awards contest information for details. NYC Department of Education Recycling and Waste Prevention Coordinators Please note these NYC Department of Education requirements for public schools: Each principal must designate a School Recycling and Waste Reduction Coordinator from administrative or teaching staff. The School Recycling and Waste Reduction Coordinator and principal shall consult with representatives from all sectors of the school, including food services and custodial staff, and wherever possible, parents and students, in developing and implementing the School Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan. Recycling Coordinator must file the school's Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan and annual status report with their ISC (Integrated Service Center) by October 1 each year. Principals at campus schools must collectively select one of the Recycling Coordinators to be the Building Recycling Coordinator for all the schools in the building. Building Recycling Coordinators must file an annual report by October 1 each year. See the Chancellor's regulations (A-850) for more detailed information. Inquiries about these regulations should be addressed to the DOE Department of School Facilities. back to top How to set up your school's recycling program See a list of what to recycle in schools. Work with the building custodian Set up containers for recycling Inform administration, teachers, kitchen staff, and students WORK WITH THE CUSTODIAN Identify storage areas for recyclables—inside or outside, on each floor or in a central location. Ensure recyclables are collected in clear bags from each room. Place recyclables at the curb or in the school's dumpster in clear bags. (Note: It is illegal to place recyclables at the curb in black bags.) Use the site visit request form to arrange for a Recycling Outreach specialist to come do an informative walk-through with your custodian, principal, and Recycling Coordinator. SET UP CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLING Place containers for recycling in every room—see the school recycling program checklist. Place containers near where recyclables are generated. For example, place recycling containers for paper near copiers, and recycling containers for bottles and cans near vending machines. Any type of container can be used for recycling—you can even use labeled cardboard boxes. Label recycling containers with free Department of Sanitation decals (or use paint or permanent marker. Post signs explaining what to recycle near every container. Note: The Department of Sanitation does not provide recycling or garbage containers. Your custodian or principal can purchase recycling bins through standard Department of Education contracts. See the school materials request form to order free recycling decals and signs, or to download and print your own. INFORM ADMISTRATION, TEACHERS, KITCHEN STAFF, AND STUDENTS Circulate an annual reminder to teachers and all staff about what and how to recycle. Explain to students what and how to recycle in classrooms, cafeterias, and common areas. back to top School recycling program checklist Use this simple checklist to ensure that every area of your school is correctly set up for recycling. See a list of what to recycle in schools. Recycling in classrooms and school offices Recycling in the teachers’ lounge/cafeteria Recycling in the cafeteria Recycling in the school kitchen Recycling storage areas Recycling collection service RECYCLING IN CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL OFFICES Recycle mixed paper and corrugated cardboard: Put all paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers. Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags. Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination. Keep corrugated cardboard boxes separate for recycling. RECYCLING IN THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE/CAFETERIA Recycle mixed paper and cardboard: Put all paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers. Keep cardboard boxes separate for recycling. Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes (empty food or beverages from all containers): Put all cans and bottles into BLUE-labeled recycling containers. Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags. Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination. RECYCLING IN THE CAFETERIA Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes (empty food or beverages from all containers): Empty leftover liquids into a separate bucket. Put all bottles, cans, foil & beverage cartons into BLUE-labeled recycling containers. Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags. Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination. RECYCLING IN THE SCHOOL KITCHEN Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes (empty food or beverages from all containers): Put all metal, glass & plastic recyclables into BLUE-labeled recycling containers. Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags. Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination. Recycle corrugated cardboard, paper egg cartons, paper packaging, and mixed paper: Put recyclable paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers. Put wax- and plastic-coated paper packaging in the regular garbage. Flatten and stack corrugated cardboard boxes for recycling. RECYCLING STORAGE AREAS Keep recyclables separate from garbage at indoor or outdoor storage areas: Label the Recycling Area. Collect and store all recyclables in CLEAR bags. Set recyclables out at the curb in CLEAR bags for collection. Flatten and tie corrugated cardboard into bundles no more than 18” high, or place in CLEAR bags. Recycle bulk metal (metal furniture, file cabinets, appliances) by placing at the curb beside other recyclables. Before discarding refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water coolers, and other appliances containing CFC gas, call 311 or make an appointment online for removal of the CFC gas. For safety reasons, remove doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing out for disposal. DSNY RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICES Schools that receive garbage collection from the NYC Department of Sanitation are also eligible for DSNY recycling collection service. There are three types of collection for schools: CURBSIDE: Recyclables are collected weekly in the same truck as the local neighborhood's recyclables. To find out your Recycling Day use the collection schedule feature on the Sanitation website, or call 311. To report missed collections, call 311, or complete the Missed Collection form on the Sanitation website. (Note: your building's collection location may be scheduled for a different collection day than the building's street address.) DUMPSTERS: Buildings that use dumpsters for mechanized collection of garbage and of paper recyclables receive curbside collection of CLEAR bags containing recyclable metal, glass, plastic & beverage cartons. DUAL-BIN NIGHT TRUCK: DSNY services some schools every weeknight with a dual-bin Sanitation truck: garbage is collected in one side (every day), and recyclables in the other (paper on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; metal/glass/plastic on Tuesday and Friday). This schedule is in addition to regular weekly curbside recycling collection service. IMPORTANT: Please see special requirements for discarding electronics (televisions, computers, printer, peripherals) and non-incandescent light bulbs (fluorescent, mercury vapor, metal halide, high intensity discharge, high pressure sodium) with your regular garbage or recycling collection. Contact your custodian or Department of Education Facilities Recycling at 347-386-4458 for information on proper disposal. Call 311 if you have any problems or questions about Department of Sanitation collection of your recyclables. back to top ALSO SEE resources for schools to find recycling decals, flyers, and educational materials available free of charge for schools in New York City. Schools in NYC can enter their recycling, waste prevention, and cleanup programs in the annual Golden Apple Awards contests. back to top

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