Recycling in NYC Schools

“Collaborating with Custodians:
Together We Make Schools Green”

Join us for Educating Tomorrow and
the UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.
   
Who:        People interested in “greening” NYC schools
What:       Network; take part in a discussion on collaborating with custodians
When:      Thursday, November 20, 4–5:30pm (networking from 4-4:30)
Where:     UFT Headquarters 
                52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: info@educatingtomorrow.org

Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi founded Educating Tomorrow to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. They are working with other teachers to form a UFT Green Schools Committee. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

Anyone interested in carpooling??

You are invited to the first statewide

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

 

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State St , Albany , NY

(Rear Entrance Parking, Entrance is on 85 Chestnut St , www.wpcalbany.org)

 

Speakers Include:

Neil Seldman, Institute of Local Self Reliance

Professor Paul Connett, International Waste Management Researcher

Barbara Warren, Citizens' Environmental Coalition 

 

Why do we have so much garbage? What can we do to prevent it?  Looking at the trash question as a resource issue and a problem of industrial design is ushering in bold alternatives to leaking landfills and polluting incinerators in forward-thinking cities and countries around the world.  What can New Yorkers do to bring these solutions to our state and communities?

 

New Yorkers have a great opportunity to transform our solid waste practices as the state is finally revising its Solid Waste Policy.  National expert speakers will discuss how NY communities can start zeroing out waste with reuse, recycling, composting and remanufacturing.  The conference features speaker presentations followed by strategy sessions on key zero waste issues, including fighting incinerators & landfills, composting all organics (food & yard waste, etc),  economic development and green jobs,  pitfalls of privatization and waste prevention.  

 

Sponsored by Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC)
$15.00 Conference Fee includes lunch and refreshments

 

Scholarships are available.

 

 

More Information on the Zero Waste Conference Speakers

Paul Connett, International researcher and campaigner on waste management and recently retired Chemistry Professor.  Paul is known for his decades of work effectively fighting incinerators around the world making over 2,000 presentations in the U.S. and 50 other countries. He is the only one we know that can make waste funny!

 

Neil Seldman, President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Neil is known for his work effectively fighting incinerators, and for his economic perspective and promotion of alternatives like waste reduction. He is an economic development & jobs expert utilizing resources in our waste stream.

 

Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Formerly with Consumers Union and the NYC Zero Waste Campaign. Barbara helped to prevent the building of incinerators in NYC, led the effort to close Fresh Kills landfill and has addressed environmental justice burdens of waste.  

 

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

Albany , NY

November 15^th, 2008

9:30-4:30

 

Send to CEC at cectoxic@igc.org or CEC, 33 Central Ave. , Albany , NY 12210

Phone: 518-462-5527, Fax: 518-465-8349.

 

1) __  Yes, I will attend the Zeroing Out Waste Conference.

2) __   I will pay the $15 Registration Fee.

__ Sending check to CEC.

__ Will Call with Credit Card Info

3) Lunch:  ___Meat   ___Vegetarian ___Vegan.   Help us make it a zero waste event. Bring your CUP for coffee/tea!

4) Contact Information. Please fill out.  Thanks.

Name:    _________________________      

Group (if any): _______________________

Address:  ________________________      

City: ____________     State: _____   Zip: _______

Phone: _____________________________

Email:  _____________________________

Havana Outpost's corn is great, but their compostable plates and utensils are even greater. They send everything out for commercial composting (otherwise it'd sit in a landfill with the carrot that'll stay in tact for thirty years or more). Makes me wonder why so many places are putting on a "green face" by offering their drinks and food in and on "compostable" ware when it's just going to sit in a landfill with its non-break-downable friends. How much better is it than plastic? When and if it eventually breaks down--and it will before plastic--it won't leach toxics like a good venti Starbucks mocha frappuccino (a moment on the lips and a hundreds of lifetimes in New Jersey's hills). Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which evangelizes composting, only has trash bins for your BBG cafe eats--they don't even compost it.

Back to Havana Outpost. They have a lot of green events happening. Check out the article in the Indypendent that highlights one such event and Micki Josi's work to get all public schools recycling. The plight of NYC composters onward!

I found out what to do with that pesky plastic #6 that is not recyclable.... it's the stuff raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and to-go foods sometimes comes in. Just check for the number inside the very misleading chasing arrows (the recycling symbol which means absolutely squat when it comes to plastic... oh those sneaking plastic makers... they've all fooled us so well) 

You can make SHRINKY DINKS!

Instructions:

1.  Wash and dry the plastic meticulously

2.  Cut the flat part out with no stickers

3.  Draw or trace a picture onto it with perminant marker

4.  Cut it out so that there are not sharp edges

5.  Punch a hole in it with a hole punch if you want to make a charm

6.  Place on parchment paper in a 250 degree toaster oven for about 30 seconds give or take... it works best in a toaster over.  I tried it in a real oven and it took a lot longer, so maybe the temp has to be adjusted.  You will see it shrivel up and then straighten out most likely... it's not fool proof.  Probably also shouldn't breath it in... I didn't say it wasn't toxic as I imagine most plastic is. 

Let me know how it turns out... or email me and we can schedule a demonstration.  I'll try to take some pictures and post them.

I registered my school with the Go Green Initiative awhile ago after finding out about them while applying for a NYSAR3, the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, grant. I now receive newsletters about their different initiatives, such as reducing the number of photocopies made in schools.

I recently contacted them because I've spoken with various NYC teachers who have mentioned they've also registered with Go Green. I asked them how many NYC schools have registered and how registered schools can connect. They said over 250 schools are registered in New York (I'm still wondering how many have registered in NYC) and these schools have access to a private online forum where they can connect and share ideas. Apparently, new schools are invited monthly to join. I don't remember this option, but I'm going to get signed up. I'm interested in how to more effectively collaborate NYC Go Green schools.

They also said they're connected with New York State through their partner, NYSAR3. Apparently, NYSAR3 guides them on what issues to support in NY.

Go Green's annual conference on greening schools, 2008 Earth Summit, is taking place in Syracuse, NY this year on Oct. 17-18. You can register now. Jet Blue flights out of JFK are affordable. Is anyone interested in attending?

On Monday, Coquille and I attended the monthly Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board meetings. SWABs were created in each borough with Local Law 19 to ensure community input on important waste management issues, such as where waste transfer stations should be placed, what should be recycled, etc.  

We were invited to share our experience with recycling in schools as a follow-up to the City Hall Recycling in Schools Hearing. Brooklyn SWAB showed a lot of interest in this issue and as a result is developing a subcommittee that will be meeting on Saturday, July 19th at 10am in order to step-up communications with the Department of Education as they enter they enter into process of revising the DOE Chancellor's Regulations on Waste Management. If you are interested in attending, please email us at mathjosi@yahoo.com or info@educatingtomorrow.org.

The following is an outline of the ideas discussed at the meeting:

First, Ken Diamondstone, the chair of the SWAB who also testified at the Hearing, summed up the problem by saying the main issues with recycling in schools are: lack of coordinators, lack of money for supplies, problems with collection, need for comprehensive environmental and recycling education, and ongoing issues with custodians and cleaners.

The topics discussed at the meeting were:

   1. REGULATIONS:  As a result of pressure put on the DOE during City Council Hearing on School Recycling, the DOE's Division of School Facilities is scheduled to rewrite the DOE Regulations on Waste Management over the summer.  From what we understand Jeffrey Shear, who testified at the Hearing, is heading up this project with the assistance of Chip Stamm. Coquille and I have both called Chip Stamm in order to find out how they have designed the revision process. We are very concerned they are going to quickly rewrite them without taking the time to involve all constituents. We are asking them to form a Consortium involving: teachings, recycling coordinators, custodians, cleaners, administrators, and Dept. of Sanitation to ensure the development of an effective system and buy-in.  It was suggested we contact Councilmember Robert Jackson, the Chair of the Education Committee, and ask him to contact Mr. Stamm about this. Perhaps other people can push for this Consortium as well: Councilmember Michael McMahon, Chairman of the Council's Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, Carmen Cognetta, and David Hurd, the Director of Office of Recycling Outreach and Education with CENYC. The new Regulations should include: the development of school-based recycling plans; mandatory training for custodians, cleaners, staff, and students; environmental education; the inclusion of a recycling coordinator on the staff of every school as a paid position, at least for one or two periods per day; district-wide training for recycling coordinators; and district-wide and borough-wide recycling coordinating positions.
   2. ACCOUNTABILITY:  How will schools be held accountable?  Maybe recycling could be part of the Quality Review, or there should be a separate Recycling Review or Audit?  What about the chancellor?  (I give him a horrible rating on this issue because he has failed to update enforce the current Regulations and update them and he's never responded to any of my letters.)
          * School-based recycling coordinators must be part of the school budget. They should have a job descriptions they are held accountable for, which could include writing a school-based recycling plan, implementation, education, and managing collection of materials. It could also include writing grants and applying for awards, such as Dept. of Sanitation Golden Apple Awards, which includes and being inspections and evaluations.  They should also attend regular theme-based district-wide meetings (monthly) with other recycling coordinators, which would include the opportunity to discuss their school's recycling programs, and share problems and solutions. This position does not need to be full time and works well when a couple periods a week are built into his or her teaching schedule.
   3. MONEY:  How will the DOE pay for collection, mechanization, school coordinators, custodians, and supplies?  One way is through the savings of throwing less garbage away and earning money through recycling. How can we show that recycling in schools will save money and pay for itself? We need the DOE or DOS to perform a current Waste Audit and a Waste Characterization Study for schools to find out what and how much they are throwing away. Who will do it and how can we push for that to be done? Perhaps the NYC Comptroller, William Thompson, Jr., could help us.
   4. COMMITTEE:  Coquille and Micki are working on organizing meetings for next year (once per month).  We are still trying to find meeting space and time.  We need people's input on this since we want the meetings to be well attended, so we will need a time and place that works well for people.  According to the DOE testimony by Jeffery Shear, the DOE has 372 recycling coordinators.  Are we on that list?  Who is on that list?  Can we get a copy since maybe those coordinators would want to attend our meetings?  We need to contact them again to get a copy of the list.
   5. LAWSUIT:  Should the DOE be sued for not complying with Local Law 19, which mandates recycling in New York City?  Can we find a pro bono lawyer pursue DOE for breaking the recycling laws for 19 years?  Perhaps we should contact Public Advocate Mark Green, or the current Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum? What about NRDC?
   6. PRIVITIZATION:  What about contracting with private recycling agencies to collect recyclables from the DOE?  Can schools make money doing this?  Who wants to call VISY to find out if this is possible?  Maybe Micki and Coquille can start doing this a pilot program in their schools next year?  Who would have to give them permission?  How would this work?  Someone from NRDC said that it would be illegal to do this since the City owns the garbage and it would be like stealing. Is this true?
   7. OUTREACH:  Who else should be try to get in touch with and what should we ask them to do?  Should we get the Teacher Union in on this?  Who should we call from the union? Randi Weingarten?  Should the State government be in on this?  What if we call Governor Paterson's office? What about Robert Lange, the Director of the Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling with the Department of Sanitation?
   8. COLLECTION:  We must have mechanized collection or daily pick-up because we do not have the space to store materials on non-collection days. It is also considered a fire and safety hazard.

There are so many things to do, maybe we could each find a topic we are most interested in and volunteer to work toward that end.

On Tuesday, Jeffrey Shear, Chief of Staff for the Dept. of Education's Office of Finance and Administration, testified the DOE works with 372 recycling coordinators in NYC schools. This, along with much of Mr. Shear's testimony, does not reflect the experience of teachers inside schools.

Have you ever received support from DOE with your recycling? Are you listed as one of the DOE's 372?

Council member Robert Jackson asked Mr. Shear to provide the Committee with a list of the 372 coordinators. I have been a self-appointed Recycling Coordinator at my school for three years and was never contacted by the DOE. In fact, I wasn't aware there was anyone in DOE dedicated to recycling until January 14th of this year. On that afternoon I spent three hours making phone calls (because no one in DOE had any idea about who was in charge of school recycling) until I reached Mr. Shear. I let him know about our Committee and said we wanted to work with them on making recycling in schools more effective. I never heard back from him.

After calling again, I finally spoke with Salvatore Calderone, Field Operations, Custodial Operations. He said Michael Grobshteyn was in charge of school recycling for all FIVE boroughs. He called me and said he'd help with our collection issues. He said he'd set up a meeting with our local Garage and Custodians, but he never did. He actually called me two days before the hearing to ask if I had resolved my collection issues.

Then in Mr. Shear's testimony, he said his office used me as an example of how they help school recycling coordinators when they hadn't helped me at all. Is it because I am the only who was able to find them and called their office?

NYC Council Member Bill de Blasio (D-Park Slope) joined students and parents on Tuesday, March 26 to launch a pilot program at P.S. 154 to replace the Styrofoam lunch trays with trays made from sugar cane fiber. The new environmentally friendly trays are designed to break down within 45 days. In contrast, Styrofoam trays take around 10,000 years to break down. Some believe the trays excrete toxic chemicals into the children's hot food.

The NYC Department of Education uses 850,000 trays a day which adds up to over 4 million trays a week. Brooklyn Properties and The Juice Box are the official sponsors of the pilot program. The Booklyn Paper covered the story, along with a number of blogs.

An alarming majority of schools aren't even recycling. Paper recycling would generate roughly $235,000 a year. Glass, metal and plastic recycling could generate approximately $513,000 per year for a total of $748,000 in lost revenue. Additionally, transporting waste to landfills is getting increasingly expensive, having risen 300% over the past ten years.

Could recycling pay for the cost of converting to earth-friendly trays?

Councilmember de Blasio has also introduced legislation, Intro 609, which would prohibit the use of Styrofoam by City agencies and food establishments. McDonald's stop using Styrofoam packaging in 1990. The cities of Berkeley, California and Portland, Oregon were some of the first to prohibit polystyrene food packaging. Although the trays are commonly known as Styrofoam trays, Styrofoam is a licensed trademark of its manufacturer, the Dow Chemical Company.

I know it's been a really long time since I've blogged, but I've been working hard this Winter and now am ready for Spring!

Coquille and I joined the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Master Compost Program.   I've scheduled a worm composting workshop put on by BBG at my school.  It's from 4-6pm at my school in downtown Brooklyn at 345 Dean Street on Tuesday, April 29th (it's the Tuesday after Spring Break).

I also received a $1,000 grant from Park Slope Civic Council to help start the recycling program at my school.  I attached the plan that I came up with here too.  It still isn't finalized and there is the overwhelming issues of collection and storage that I still can't quite figure out since my custodian shot down these ideas and other that they suggested where again not quite right.  I might turn out that each time the paper is full in the classrooms the teacher or a student or even parent volunteer will have to take the bag out side to a storage site out of the building.  It's kind of a drag, but I can't think of another way right now and I really hope people will be on board to do that.  We'll begin with paper recycling in the classroom with the first $1,000.  I also wrote a grant to donorschoose.org for the rest of the money to do bottles and cans in the cafeterias and main office:  http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=170652

Anyway, that's the news on compost and recycling at my school.  Let me know what you've been up to this Winter?  Email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com if you want to come to the worm workshop or if you want to talk grants and school recycling ideas.

It's time to have another meeting, so we'll be getting that info out soon. 

Compost:
I finally moved and am getting settled in, so I've been quite busy.  I now have a back yard which means it's time to start a compost bin.  I'm planning to attend the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's workshop on composting:

Thursday, February 28, 6 to 8 pm
make compost with a touch of spanish (bilingual workshop)

This class addresses two audiences—English and Spanish speakers—and is translated in both languages simultaneously throughout the session. We cover the basics of composting in a complete, practical, and interactive way. Participants receive handouts and literature to review at home. Register with Karla Osorio-Pérez at 718-623-7368.

If we want to get wormbins for our classrooms, they will do a workshop for 10 or more teachers and for $10 you get the know-how, a bin, and worms to get all set up.  Let's see if we can set something up at our next meeting.
Learn more about composting in NYC at: http://www.nyccompost.org/

Letters:
The next issue on my mind recently was the fact that I've been thinking about how I need to buy products that are earth friendly and contain recycled content.  I want to only buy paper products that are made out of recycled paper.  When I was in Rite Aid, Duane Reade, and Target recently I had no luck finding these products and it really irritated me.  So I wrote them letters on their website and they have written me back all apoligetic like.  It feels good to be a consumer with a voice.  As promised in my letter I'm encouraging other people to write them these same concerns.  Here is my letter, maybe you want to write them too.  I just went on their websites and found their contact us sections.  Usually they had a form that I filled out and copied my letter into it. 

Please sell Recycled Material and Green Products!

Dear ___________________,

I care about the environment.  I recycle at home.  As a teacher, I educate my students about the importance of recycling.  When I come into your store to buy things I realize the importance of buying products that are made from recycled materials.  I would like for you to sell paper towels and toilet paper made from recycled materials.  I would also like you to carry cleaning products that are biodegradable, like Simple Green.  It’s important that your large company that has locations everywhere acknowledge the threats of Global Warming and GO GREEN by selling products that are good for the environment.  Until you let me know that you will selling these types of products in your store, I will no longer shop at your facility and I will encourage everyone I know to do the same and write you letters requesting the same things I have here.  Please do your part by simply stocking products that are earth-friendly.  I also hope you are doing your part by recycling too.

Thanks for your interest in the environment.  I know you will do the right thing to care for our planet.

Sincerely,
Micki Josi
 

It's time for the next NYC School Recycling Action Committee meeting!

Who: Anyone interested in recycling in NYC K-12 schools.

What: Networking, trouble-shooting recycling programs in our schools, creating curriculum and planning events leading up to and during Earth Week, and discussion on how to impact NYC school recycling systems. (If you're interested in facilitating a discussion on these topics or another topic, please let us know!)

Where: Prospect Park YMCA, 357 Ninth Street Brooklyn, NY (btwn 5th and 6th Ave.)

When: January 11th from 6 to 8 p.m. (We couldn't reserve it earlier. Don't fret, we'll have snacks! There are also lots of yummy restaurants and awesome bars around.)

Why: Most NYC K-12 schools are not recycling and there's A LOT we can do about it.  Plus, you can win cool door prizes!

How: Take the M, R to 9th St.-4th Ave. or the F to 7th.

RSVP to coquille@houshour.com or mathjosi@hotmail.com. We look forward to seeing you!

Check out Chris Jordan on Comedy Central and Pop!Casts! He photographs the scale of consumption patterns by photographing small quantities of things and then making digital composites that add up the smaller photographs into actual quantities of the things we consume. Pop!Casts video on Chris Jordan's Running the Numbers project. 

Hi All,

Here are the minutes as promised. I didn't hear back from anyone about changes, so please let me know if you want me to make any, and I will edit this post. You can also make comments, or begin a discussion in the forums section.

NYC School Recycling Action Committee
December 7, 2007 Meeting Notes

People introduced themselves (these are summaries of people who were present at the start of the meeting):

I'm working on trying to plan a math project related to garbage and recycling. I'd love to do something with plastic bags. Any ideas? Here are two amazing videos I'd like to incorporate into my lessons:

Our Our Synthetic Sea is about 10 minutes.

The Story of Stuff is getting a lot of attention. Here's a teaser, but you can watch the whole thing at The Story of Stuff.

I'd love to hear your ideas for the project and lessons..... in fact, I've written my lesson plans and so if you want to take a look email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com

 Coquille and I are planning to attend....

NYCORE OPEN MEETING DEC. 14TH 5-7

Are you an educator-activist? Interested in plugging into NYCoRE but not
sure how?

Join NYCoRE for our next Open Meeting

Get updates, give feedback, and learn how to get involved with working
groups that are organizing around anti-testing, anti-military recruitment
and LGBTQ issues
Learn about and help out with other upcoming NYCoRE events
Connect with fellow educators and allies interested in the social justice
movement
Speak out and have your voice heard
Friday - December 14th
5:00 - 7:00 pm
NYU 239 Greene St btwn W4th and Washington Pl.
Cochran room. 2nd floor
(Bring photo ID)

*Please RSVP: info@nycore. org*

Anyone want to have a workshop on NYC school recycling or environmental education at the  conference?

Please remind teachers that DSNY-BWPRR is happy to work with their
school's custodian and administration to help set up their school
recycling programs. They can get free decals, signs, and educational
materials including K-5 curriculum kits, coloring & comic books for elementary grades, videos & DVDs; and info to take home, such as bookmarks & recycling checklist refrigerator magnets. Download or order free materials online at www.nyc.gov/ nycwasteless/ goldenapple

Also the NYC Compost Project, funded by BWPRR, operating at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
is delighted to visit schools or host field trips to teach students
about decomposition, composting, and vermicomposting (with worms). Get
all the dirt at www.nyccompost. org.  

Schools can win enormous cash prizes (from $1,500 up to $6,000) through
DSNY's Golden Apple Awards for their school recycling, waste
prevention, or beautification initiatives that meet Dept of Education
Standards; and the Golden Shovel Award for Brooklyn Borough Master
School Composter. www.nyc.gov/ nycwasteless/ goldenapple

I am reposting this blog entry, so it's the first one on the list since our meeting is coming up.  If you can, please email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com to let me know if you plan to attend, so we can give the cafe a heads up on the number of people we plan on having at the meeting.  Look forward to meeting you!! 

We will have our next committee meeting on:

Friday, December 7th at 5pm
Red Horse Cafe
12th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope

Agenda:

1. Introductions & Interests
2. Recycling in Your School: How to we start and run an awesome recycling program!
3. Educating Tomorrow: The blog/website in order to stay connected and
how we can pool ideas on environmental education in our schools.
4. Pushing for change: Who should we contact politically to move for
real change in the system? Bill DeBasio, Public Advocate, should we
contact a lawyer?
5. Media: Creating a media kit and getting the word out now
6. Planning Ahead: What we're going to work on and setting next meeting date

We decided to use the Red Horse Cafe, they have a really nice square
couch area, but we can't reserve it, so Coquille and I will try to get
there early to HOG the couch area...anyone else who could get there
early to help us with the HOGGING is welcome, but we will try to start
on-time with introductions. Hope to see you there.

Micki Josi
mathjosi@yahoo.com
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

New Perspectives Theatre Company has a new play this year, The Adventures of Rubbish in the Hood, for grades pre-K-6. It transports the legend of Robin Hood to New York
City. Unlike the original Hood, who took from the rich and gave to
the poor, their Robert Hood takes from everyone—he’s a garbage
man! Yet this sanitation engineer gets fed up with trash and discovers the importance of reducing litter and increasing recycling and sets about saving his Brooklyn 'hood. The audience joins the
cast for some fun and games teaching valuable lesson about community service, citizenship and protecting our environment.

For more information, contact New Perspectives at 212-630-9945 or contact@newperspectivestheatre.org.

So this event took place at Solar One on Tuesday
December 4, 2007, 7pm ... but the woman from the New York City Department of Sanitation, Samatha Macbride, sent me the list of resources on the web that she gave out at the meeting, so I will post them below.  Check out Solar One's <http://www.solar1. org>
E. 23rd and the East River, lecture series called The Green Renter for other upcoming events of interest.

WOW... this is so UNBELIEVABLE and synchronistic... this is everything my old school experienced and more... Anyway know how to get ahold of Amy Eddings??

Check out the radio story (it will take only 5 minutes or less of your time and it's so worth it!!)
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/89638

Micki Josi
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

We will have our next committee meeting on:

Friday, December 7th at 5pm
Red Horse Cafe
12th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope

Agenda:

1. Introductions & Interests
2. Recycling in Your School: How to we start and run an awesome recycling program!
3. Educating Tomorrow: The blog/website in order to stay connected and how we can pool ideas on environmental education in our schools.
4. Pushing for change: Who should we contact politically to move for real change in the system? Bill DeBasio, Public Advocate, should we contact a lawyer?
5. Media: Creating a media kit and getting the word out now
6. Planning Ahead: What we're going to work on and setting next meeting date

We decided to use the Red Horse Cafe, they have a really nice square couch area, but we can't reserve it, so Coquille and I will try to get there early to HOG the couch area...anyone else who could get there early to help us with the HOGGING is welcome, but we will try to start on-time with introductions. Hope to see you there.

Micki Josi
mathjosi@yahoo.com
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

Currently at my school we are working on a unit to teach students about garbage and recycling. Here are few of my brainstorm ideas on how we might go about it... I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback:
I have a few ideas for math lessons.

1. I'm sure we can do a lot with the Gone Tomorrow video with statistics: (I'll have to watch the video a 3rd time to make sure I got these right)
a. Only 5% of all plastic is recycled
b. Plastic is produced at 7 times the rate that it is recycled
c. Corporation produce 70 times the amount of waste as individuals
We could follow this grim video up with a few light hearted videos: Simpsons: Trash of the Titans and The Lorax. I have the Lorax and would be happy to buy Gone Tomorrow (I sent you the link before for the video on-line) and Simpson Season 9 DVDs.

2. Recyclables Mobile
Students should do a recycles scavenger hunt in order to solve and display visually their answer to:
1. How many cups are in one gallon? or How many ounces are in one gallon? They could collect 1 gallon, connect that to 4 containers that are size one quart, on each quart hang two pint size objects, on each pint two cups size objects. They could collect these items form their recycling at home and start to display them. We could simultaneously be teaching kids about recycling at home and give them decals etc to set up their own home recycling system. This might inspire students to want to create a school recycling program... we can talk more about this.

3. Calculate waste

I sent the following letter to the mayor on the city's website. The response below the letter was from Mary Most from NYC Dept. of Sanitation's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse & Recycling. You should contact her if you are interested in starting a school recycling program. She can provide you with information and some supplies, including decals, poster, curriculum, videos, and more. She is also the person you will work with on your Golden Apple Awards entry if you start a program. She recommends that instead of writing to the Mayor, since she will in term receive the letter and have to respond to it, that we send all letters to Chancellor Klein, since the problem is within the DOE and he's responsible for enforcing his own regulations with regard to recycling (check out Coquille's blog for a copy on the Chancellor's regulations on recycling in the DOE).

-----------------------------My Letter to the Mayor-----------------------------

As a New York City teacher fellow who started and ran a recycling program in a Bedford-Styvesant middle school for two years. I face the issues discussed by the recent Post article: “IL'LITTER'ATE SCHOOLS FLUNK THEIR RECYCLING” on a daily basis.
I have a few questions for you:
1. Why doesn’t the city promote recycling?
2. Is the city’s garbage situation at a crisis level yet? When will it be?
3. How much garbage does the city generate?
4. Where does all of our the garbage go?
5. How much of this waste is reusable and/or recyclable?
6. What will happen if we keep throwing all of these recyclable items away?
7. Can the city or school generate some kind of income from recycling?
8. Is recycling cost effective?
9. When will we be so overwhelmed with garbage we won’t have anywhere else to put it? What will happen then?
10. Why don’t people realize that this is an inevitable crisis that must and can be averted through a wide-spread reduce, reuse, and recycling effort?

Who and what is the School Recycling Action Committee?

Coquille and I (Micki AKA mathjosi) are both crazy Oregon hippie chicks who came to NYC to find experience in the big city. Coming for a very green town of Eugene, Oregon, we were stunned and amazed by the amount of waste and lack of environmental awareness that we'd become accustomed to. Both NYC Teaching Fellows (me - teaching middle school math, she teaching bilingual elementary), we were horrified by the dismal sight of dirty old blue recycling bins in every classroom being used only for garbage, no thought or mention of recycling, littered cafeterias, hallways, and classrooms.... not to mention neighborhoods and students who found it common place to throw trash on the sidewalks, streets, on the floor, in the desks, and even out the window. We inspired each other to take on the volunteer role of recycling coordinator in addition to our demanding teacher duties in tough Brooklyn schools. I started and ran my program for two years in a shared building with two other schools, while she simultaneously did the same at her elementary school, which occupied her entire building. We shared ideas about how to work with our custodians, acquire the necessary bins, train our students with assemblies, held promotional contests, and contacted Sanitation constantly about the problems we were experiencing with their collection which is infrequent at best or sometimes doesn't happen for weeks on end while bags of recycables become litter all over the side walk and streets.

Finally we documented the whole process to present to New York City's Department of

Last night a few of us braved the cold, rain, noise and crowds to meet up at the Village Pour House for our School Recycling Action Committee Meeting.

We had a huge table in the back, but it was super noisy and almost impossible to hear people. Seven people were in attendance: Coquille, Chong, Dave, Micki, Sarah, John, and Marie. We tried our best to discuss the issues at our schools and the individual interests. Coquille shared NYC RRR curriculum kit from the Department of Sanitation (order one for yourself), her Golden Apple Award binder, and copies of the Post article and the NYC DOE regulations on recycling, which states that all schools are required by law to recycle and must set up a recycling program by assigning recycling coordinators at every level: All DOE offices and schools. We know these regulations are not be followed or enforced! You can see the copies at Educating Tomorrow look under groups and then NYC School Recycling blog. We we will be this Group to post ideas about actions we can all be taking in our schools and on our computers to push our schools and the HUGE DOE to do it's job and start recycling programs.

Chong shared his work with Soul Survivors Inc. on composting programs in the city and the possibility of working with schools to institute compost training and worm bins. He is also working on the creative end on comic strips and educational materials for kids on composting. Micki expressed her interest in working with him specifically on training kids at her school since she is starting a unit of study on waste, garbage and recycling. Compost would be an excellent addition to unit and could be a very cool way to learn math and science!

Here's another great article on NYC Recycling by City Limits.

http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3294

Do you often find yourself uttering this very question?

Well here's how I did it:

Step 1. Request necessary publications, decals, poster, videos, coloring books, magnets, etc from the NYC Department of Sanitation. http://www.nyc.gov/recycle

Step 2: Replace old dirty blue recycling bins that are coated with trash from their many years serving as garbage bins in teh school with real garbage bins and sparkling new blue recycling bins for paper only in every classroom. This cost $1,500 for a school with 4 floors and approximately 500 students grades 6 - 8. I wrote and we receive a grant from http://www.donorschoose.org. The grant also paid for large CLEAR (not blue) collection bags, a wheeled collection bin for each floor, bottle collection bins for the cafeterias and main office, and sanitary gloves for the kids to collect with.

A wonderful video of only 20 minutes... based on a book. Watch the video on-line.

http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/11/22/gone-tomorrow-the-hidden-life-of-garbage-video/

Does anyone know of any other movies or lessons for kids on the issue of garbage and recycling?

Here's an idea... what if everyone (parents, teacher, students, and the public at large) wrote their own passion letter to Chancellor Klein to persuade him to pay attention to recycling in schools and take action. Why not submit your 350 words or less letter to Klein now?

Here's the letter I wrote:

I am a math teacher in my 6th year working for the DOE in NYC. I became aware of the recycling problem when I saw old dirty recycling bins used as garbage cans throughout the building and every DOE school building I've been in since that first day. So frustrated and bothered by this situation, in 2004, I started a school-wide recycling program at my school, I.S. 33, with a grant for $1,500 from Donors Choose to buy new bins, and garbage bins for each classroom, bottle containers for cafeteria, main office, and teachers lounge, collection bags, gloves, and wheeled containers. I acquired training materials from the Sanitation Department and conducted assemblies to the student body. I recruited student volunteers to collect the recyclables. We experienced many problems including, custodians throwing away recyclables, cafeteria staff not recycling properly, and the Department of Sanitation not coming to pick up the curbside recycling for weeks on end.

Here is the letter I submitted to the NY Post after their article on recycling, or lack thereof, in NYC schools:

Thanks to the Post for your article on the lack of recycling in schools. As a teacher in the NYC DOE, I face this problem everyday. I started and ran a recycling program in Brooklyn for 2 years. It was no easy task.

The first issue is acquiring supplies: real garbage bins (not dirty recycling bins), and new and clean recycling bins, large clear bags, plastic gloves, and wheeled collection bin for each floor. We received a grant for $1,500 from Donors Choose for these. Decals, posters, curriculum, and videos came from the Department of Sanitation, who also awarded our program $1,500 for their Golden Apple Awards.

The next is collection. Students participate eagerly, but without a supportive infrastructure, the collection is either thrown out by custodians or not collected by Sanitation (we experienced both). Realistically, each school building needs a trained professional whose sole responsibility is to see that recycling codes are followed.

We are, after all, in the business of educating the future. We are mis-educating them, if the teaching of recycling isn’t on the bill. I want to rally support for a massive recycling initiative in this city. Please contact me by enlisting with Recycle THIS!.

Our first meeting to discuss School Recycling Action:

Friday, November 9 at 7pm
Village Pour House (East Village)
3rd Ave and 11th Street

We'd like to discuss:
1. Contacting the media. I sent the attached op-ed to the NY Post. I'd like to mass distribute it to the media and start a letter writing campaign about this issue.

2. How to start a school recycling program and the issues surrounding it.

3. Vision of school recycling. How should it ideally run. Maybe a non-profit group will need to be formed in order to educate students and staff and set up a system in each school.

4. Any other ideas? What other actions should we take to raise awareness and solve this tremendous problem.

Hope you can make it... please write to me to let me know if we should expect you at the meeting and any questions or concerns you have and like to talk about at the meeting at mathjosi@yahoo.com. Also please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested.

Thanks,
Micki Josi

PS. Read the NY Post's article on the NYC school recycling problem.

According to the Chancellor's regulations, the Department of Education should not only be recycling a significant amount of their waste, but will be fined if it doesn't. If you're in the DOE or Sanitation, you know that's not happening.