Recycling in NYC Schools

Welcome to the NYC School Recycling Group!

admin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:56:19 -0800

Most NYC K-12 schools are not recycling and there's a lot we can do about it. Join us in working toward successful recycling programs in all NYC schools. Let's make a difference together!

Here's how you can get started:

1. Join the Group. First create an Educating Tomorrow account—it's free. Then subscribe to the NYC School Recycling Group. Check out How to Start and Run an Awesome Recycling Program and contribute to its content, much like a wiki.

2. Actively Contribute. Read people's blogs and post comments. Write your own Blog. Contribute to our Forum.

3. Attend our next Be Cool. Recycle at School! meetings, which take place the third Tuesday of every month. Check out our calendar for upcoming meetings.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Is it true that, "nobody cares!"?

mathjosi — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:34:46 -0800

Yesterday I had a very upsetting conversation with someone about why the schools around mine don't recycle (not that mine is perfect either). According to her it was because, "nobody cares!" She went on to say that the fact that I do would ultimately lead to me, "killing myself!" I'm not sure if she meant literally or metaphorically. I do feel like I'm killing myself sometimes. Why do I do this? Why do I care, especially if it's true that nobody else does? Is it really true that nobody cares? I feel like through my organizing efforts I'm trying to seek out the people who like me are "killing" ourselves caring too much or maybe you have found a balance so you aren't killing yourself and are positively affecting change around you. My belief is it is not that people don't care it's that they are ignorant. This is the same reason people are racist or sexist, right? It's all due to ignorance. It's the job of educators to educate people and then they will care. So this is an email to request some support. Why should I continue to care? Why shouldn't I give up? Why should I spend my time on issues that supposedly "nobody cares" about? Why do you care?

I care because I think of the children who will grow up in a world uninhabitable, depicted in movies like Wall-E and Idiocracy because they are so trashed. I think of kids eating off of Styrofoam trays who figure, well the adults who designed things like this must have a plan, they must have it all figured out, right? They are doing the best to take care of the world so I can grow up and enjoy it and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. But I feel stuck. I have lists of movies and resources, but I don't know how to use them to teach people to care. My emails feel like they fall on deaf ears or even aren't read. Can you reach out and tell me why you care? I want to live in a world where people care because together I do believe we can make a difference... not me alone, but in cooperation with others who care. To me it sends a message when people take disposable cups for their coffee that they just don't care about anything but their instant gratification or they are just ignorant. How can we inform them in a way that they will listen, learn, and care?

Recycling in NYC Schools

Meet the DOE’s Director of Sustainability Ozgem Ornektekin!

mathjosi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:45:31 -0800

Meet the DOE’s Director of Sustainability Ozgem Ornektekin!

Join us on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 for the

UFT Green Schools Committee Monthly Meeting

Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:

4:30 – 4:55 School Recycling Setup

by Mary Most, NYC Department of Sanitation

5:00 – 6:00

1. Brief Introductions

2. DOE Sustainability Committee Presentation by

-John Shea, Chief Executive Officer, DOE Division of School Facilities

-Ozgem Ornektekin, Director of Sustainability, DOE Division of School Facilities

3. Green Schools Alliance’s Green Cup Challenge Presentation

6:00 – 6:30 Earth Day Event Subcommittee Planning

Join a subcommittee:

Recycling and Waste Chairs: Shannon Buckley-Shaklee and Juliana Germak

Compost and Gardening Chair: Alison Croney

School Food Chair: TBD

SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools) Chair: Debby Lee Cohen

Environmental Education Chair: TBD

Sustainable Energy Chair: TBD

Where: UFT – 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 - 212.598.7772

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings:

1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability. Find out more about our committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/ Join us on facebook!

Recycling in NYC Schools

South Bronx Food & Film Expo!

mathjosi — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:11:57 -0800

Dec 5th @ Noon:

http://www.thepoint.org/events.php?event=72

School Gardening & Composting

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP DRILLING IN NEW YORK CITY’S WATERSHED

mathjosi — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:25:19 -0800

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP DRILLING IN NEW YORK CITY’S WATERSHED
Let the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC-State)
know that they must ban natural gas drilling!
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is concerned!

Natural gas drilling of any sort is an industrial activity that can pollute the ground and surface waters that form an integral part of New York City’s drinking water system. "We will do whatever we have to do to protect the watershed," he said. "And that includes whatever legal options are available to us.” Testimony of Steven W. Lawitts Acting Commissioner NYC DEP at NYC Council 10/23/09

RALLY TO "KILL THE DRILL" NEXT TUESDAY AT STUYVESANT H.S.
Sponsored by the Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer MBPO.org/KillTheDrill

Rally to Kill the Drill! Testify! Nov. 10 NYC

Meet Tues. Nov. 10, ‘09 at 5pm outside Stuyvesant H.S. (345 Chambers St.) prior to the DEC Hearing at Stuyvesant H.S. Nov. 10, ‘09 at 6:30 pm. Sign-up to testify at 5:30

Hydraulic Fracturing has been linked to dozens of leaks, spills, and contaminations.
GAS DRILLING ISN'T SAFE - - and it's Time to Act Hear scientific information, written comments and testimony from national and grassroots environmental groups. THE NY CITY WATERSHED IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY Protecting the City's watershed is an important goal - but it is far from the only critical outcome we demand. The Delaware River Watershed which delivers water to Philadelphia, Trenton, Camden and much of the Catskills is equally important.The water from the Catskill's aquifers which support agriculture and food production for New York City and our area are equally important. The Catskill Park, one of the Northeast's only true wilderness areas within a hundred miles of a major city is equally important. This isn't just about the Catskills - it is also about the whole Southern Tier of New York
0.
0. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer 212.669.4462 RSVP@manhattanbp.org,
0. Joe Levine from www.DamascusCitizens.org and www.NYH2O.org
and Wes Gillingham from www.CatskillMountainkeeper.org will testify.
Other officials & concerned citizens will speak. The DEC must get the message! Numbers will count! The “Kill the Drill” coalition includes Congressmembers Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Public Adv. Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate-elect Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall, State Sen. Tom K. Duane, Liz Krueger and Daniel L. Squadron, Assm. Members Jonathan L. Bing, James F. Brennan (BILL NUMBER:A8748), Jeffrey Dinowitz, Deborah J. Glick, Richard N. Gottfried, Brian Kavanagh, Micah Z. Kellner, Rory I. Lancman and Linda B. Rosenthal, Councilmembers Gale A. Brewer, Leroy Comrie, DanielR. Garodnick, James F. Gennaro, Jessica S. Lappin, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Rosie Mendez, City CM-elect Margaret Chin, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), NYH2O, & many NYC Comm. Boards
KILL THE DRILL Public Service Announcement. Blast it EVERYWHERE. Josh FOX
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/7480128YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au4p7clRk-Y

Recycling in NYC Schools

EEAC (Environmental Education Advisory Council) Annual Meeting

mathjosi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:23:22 -0800

EEAC ANNUAL MEETING!

Wednesday, November 18^th 4:30-7pm

Hosted by the National Audubon Society

Join us for the EEAC Annual Meeting hosted at the NYC headquarters of the National Audubon Society, a LEED certified building which achieved a Platinum ranking in 2008. Learn more about their new space and the educational work of this organization.

Network and reconnect with colleagues. Steering committee meeting 4:30-5pm. All are welcome, so bring a friend and introduce them to EEAC!

Maximum limit of 35 participants.

RSVP Barry Weinbrom 718-965-9814 or baw441@aol.com

You must be on our list to enter the building!

Directions:

225 Varick Street. Take the #1 train to Houston Street.

http://www.audubon.org/nas/newoffice2.html

To learn more about EEAC visit www.eeac-nyc.org

Recycling in NYC Schools

Upcoming Meeting: UFT Green Schools Committee 11/17/09

mathjosi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:20:33 -0800

Join us on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting
Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation

5:00-6:00    General Meeting
PRESENTATION: Styrofoam Out of Schools Committee (SOS)
by Debby Lee Cohen

6:00-7:00    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).
    Recycling and Waste
    Compost and Gardening
    School Food
    SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools)
    Environmental Education
    Sustainable Energy

Where: UFT – 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 - 212.598.7772
Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Upcoming events:
Worm Compost November 12 at 5pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/471247514
School Recycling Training November 23 at 5pm http://schoolrecyclingworkshop.eventbrite.com/
Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings:
12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.
Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/
Join us on facebook!

Officers: Michael Mulgrew President, Michael Mendel Secretary, Mel Aaronson Treasurer, Robert Astrowsky Assistant Secretary, Mona Romain Assistant Treasurer, Vice Presidents: Karen Alford, Carmen Alvarez, Leo Casey, Richard Farkas, Aminda Gentile, Sterling Roberson

OPEIU: 153

Recycling in NYC Schools

Are New Yorkers right to think recycling is a waste of time?

mathjosi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:19:22 -0800

Are New Yorkers right to think recycling is a waste of time?

http://econaturecare.com/blog/?p=748

Read this interesting article and let us know what you think!

Recycling in NYC Schools

UFT Green Schools Meeting Tuesday, October 20, 2009

mathjosi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:37:00 -0700

Join us on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting

Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation

5:00-6:00    General Meeting
Guest Speaker from NYRP’s (New York Restoration Project) New Outdoor Learning Center & Environmental Education Programs
Announcements, Q + A & Networking

6:00-7:00 Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).

Recycling and Waste Chairs: Shannon Buckley-Shaklee and Juliana Germak
Compost and Gardening Chair: Alison Croney
School Food Chair: TBD
SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools) Chair: Debby Lee Cohen
Environmental Education Chair: TBD
Sustainable Energy Chair: TBD

Where: UFT
52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
212.598.7772

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings: 10/20/09, 11/17/09, 12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.

Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/

OPEIU: 153

Recycling in NYC Schools

AMAZING SOUTH BRONX YOUTH VIDEO

mathjosi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:48:23 -0700

Greetings!

Please watch the you tube video link below featuring amazing South Bronx Youth helping to feed 400 families daily while cultivating minds and harvesting hope and awareness across the Bronx. This program was initially started with 17 students who had 40% daily attendance and in the process, achieved 93% daily attendance and 100% graduation rates and has taken off across the Borough and NYC. Please help us celebrate and validate the ability to move youth from being "apart from" everything to becoming "a part of" the local solution!

Please feel free to forward/post/imbed the video to any and all sites/pages/spaces so we can spread awareness and create coalition. For those of you who tweet on Twitter, please pass on as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGL6mz3dBY

To learn more about the Bronx teacher involved, see the link below and write to getinvolvednyc@gmail.com

http://www.bronx.com/news/local/515.html

Watch for news about our amazing live, star studded event on Saturday afternoon and evening, November 14, 2009 at The Point Community Development Center - 940 Garrison Avenue - Village of Hunts Point, South Bronx NYC.

Thanks kindly,

Stephen Ritz
917 873 6449

School Gardening & Composting

An Environmental Education Expo

mathjosi — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:25:12 -0700

New York City Outdoors!
An Environmental Education Expo
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
4:00—6:30 pm
Hudson River Park Pier 66a (the Barge at the Frying Pan), Hudson River
Park at 26th Street
For more information, call 212.431.9676 x334 or email
Rebe...@nycswcd.net
Learn about field trips and in-class programs!
* Composting
* Observing live marine life or forest animals
* Overnight camping in a city park
* Hiking in forests
* Fishing and seining
* Growing oysters or trout
* Gardening with hydroponics
* Harvesting solar energy
* Using our parks as outdoor classrooms
Cool demonstrations!
* Gardening oysters
* Fishing off the pier
* Observing reptiles, fish
* Testing the Hudson River water
FREE refreshments!
Savor the fantastic view of the Hudson River, too.
Networking and socializing!
Find like-minded peers and share stories and ideas.
This program is a joint venture of The River Project, New York City
Soil & Water Conservation District, and The NYU Wallerstein
Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education.

Recycling in NYC Schools

UFT Green Schools In The News...

mathjosi — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:11:51 -0700

Check out this article on our activities... GO TEAM!

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/teachers-nyc-students-recycle.html

School Gardening & Composting

Upcoming NYC Water Events

mathjosi — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:48:40 -0700

Here are several exciting events and exhibits to get you geared up about NYC water (details further below):

TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the New York City water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

9/23: special event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.

9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future.

9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

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1. TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the NYC water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

"Under New York," a one-hour special featuring the Catskill Watershed airs on the Discovery Channel this Friday, September 4, at 7 pm.

The program is a journey through the New York water system, from high above the upstate New York watershed through the underground infrastructure to its final destination at an apartment tap in New York City.

Along the way, intrepid hosts John Rosiello and Christine McKinley bike down the steep slopes of the Catskill Mountains, kayak down the raging creeks that feed into the reservoir system, go deep underground to unearth the hidden workings of the intricate dam systems, explore abandoned aqueducts and scramble dozens of stories above the city streets atop one of New York's iconic wooden water towers.

Given unprecedented access by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, "Under New York" goes underground with a crew digging an immense filtration plant deep in the earth and rappels down the face of a 240-foot dam with members of the specially trained DEP police team.

"Under New York" explores one of the greatest water systems of the world and takes viewers to places few have ever seen - or can hope to see. Produced by Optomen Productions for Discovery, "Under New York" is an adventurous exploration of an engineering marvel.

This film was produced by Optomen Productions, a Soho, New York-based television production company known for science, reality and factual programming.

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2. 9/23: Special Event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.

More details for the event will come soon.

The New York Public Library
Science, Industry and Business Library
188 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 592-7000

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/news/the_future_beneath_us.shtml

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3. 9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future.

Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 11:30am to 6pm

Brooklyn Borough Hall and Columbus Park

209 Joralemon Street

http://www.cenyc.org/GreenBrooklynGreenCity

Green Brooklyn...Green City is an interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. Alongside our Greenmarket farmers' market, attendees can visit exhibitors, make art from recycled products, and more. The event is the largest of its kind in Brooklyn and we invite you to come learn the simple, small steps you can take to help keep New York City a healthy place to live. This event is free and open to the public.

Activities for youth: OROEgami with CENYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education; Greenmarket Tours – youth have a chance to meet farmers and learn about agriculture and the relationship between food and the environment; Solar Oven and Green House display – youth can learn from high school students participating in CENYC’s environmental education programming about the power of the sun and how green design minimizing our environmental impact; the following groups will also provide activities for youth: Urban Park Rangers, Prospect Park Alliance, New York City Department of Sanitation, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and more.

Workshops

The State of the Climate 12:00pm-1:00pm

Green Your Business 1:30pm-2:30pm

Local Vs. Organic 3:00pm-4:00pm

All workshops take place in the Court Room inside Brooklyn Borough Hall.

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4. 9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:30

Pier 66 in Manhattan (Hudson River at West 26th Street)

http://www.nycswcd.net/environmental_ed.cfm

The Expo showcases the environmental education resources for New York City teachers and educators, in hopes that more children will have the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural features of our city. There will be over thirty organizations to showcase their school-based programs and the event will feature demonstrations, such as water quality testing, observing live fish and reptiles, and fishing.

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5. 10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

This event is designed to celebrate the Hudson River Estuary and educate participants on the uniqueness of our estuary as part of the annual recognition of "National Estuaries Week". The event is coordinated by The Hudson River Estuary Program of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Hudson Basin River Watch.

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/k12/snapshotday/

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6. Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

Musuem of the City of New York

1220 Fifth Avenue

NY, NY 10029

212.534.1672

http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/current/mannahatta-manhattan-a-natural-history-of-new-york-city.html

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7. 10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY.

This day long conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet TIC teachers and contacts, attend TIC workshops and pick up trout eggs. The event is free of charge and only requires registration, lunch will be provided. Please register for the conference on our website home page: www.troutintheclassroom.org

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8. 10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

See attached flyer

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9. Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

Educator workshops will follow the opening. Stay tuned. Also close by is the Newtown Creek Nature Walk – the first public waterfront access to Newtown Creek and features rare views of the neighboring Newtown Creek wastewater treatment plant.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/environmental_education/newtown.shtml

Min Kan

Director of Education

NYC Department of Environmental Protection
59-17 Junction Boulevard 19th, Flr.
Flushing, NY 11373
Phone: (718) 595-3503

Alternative Phone: (718) 595-3506
Fax: (718) 595-3477
E-Mail: mkan@dep.nyc.gov

www.nyc.gov/dep

Recycling in NYC Schools

NWF Report: How an "indoor childhood" affects classroom performance

mathjosi — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:43:39 -0700

This message was sent to me recently and I found it fascinating!!       Subject NWF Report:  How an "indoor childhood" affects classroom performance         (1)                                                                           

Dear Colleagues,

As American childhood has steadily moved indoors in the past 12 to 15
years, outdoor play is increasingly rare.   The weekly indoor-outdoor
time ratio is now about 10 to one on the indoor side.   We wondered what
effect this modern "indoor childhood" is having on the quality of K-12
education and the average student's readiness to learn in the classroom.

In this back-to-schools time period -- Research shows children are less
fit, have shorter attention spans and are less ready to be
high-performance learners without a greater emphasis on regular outdoor
time such as a daily Green Hour.

Our new NWF report: Time Out: Using The Outdoors to Enhance Classroom
Performance is available at:
http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/Time%20Out%20with%20BOT%20Activities1.pdf

Best,

Kevin C.
 (See attached file: Time Out Press Release 9-2-09.doc)

Environmental Education

Garbage Dreams FREE for Students

mathjosi — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:37:42 -0700

Great news!! Educating Tomorrow has made arrangement with the director of Garbage Dreams to make available FREE tickets for students to see the film on Friday, July 31st at 1:55PM. Please send the information to any students you think might be interested. They need to register at the link: GARBAGE DREAMS Screening at the IFC Center Logo

We hope that the director will be able to join us at this screening for a Q & A. Also, we are working with them develop curriculum for teachers, so we'd be very interested to hear your feedback and ideas for classroom use of the film, so if you are able to attend any of the screening, please email your thoughts to info@garbagedreams.com.

"GARBAGE DREAMS" TO BE FEATURED
IN THE 2009 DOCUWEEKS SHOWCASE.

DOCUWEEKS provides the theatrical runs that qualify documentaries for Oscar consideration.
(Click here for more info about 2009 Docuweeks)

GARBAGE DREAMS will play at
the IFC Center in New York City from July 31st - August 6th
and at the Arclight in Los Angeles from August 14th - 20th.

"GARBAGE DREAMS is a moving story of young men searching for ways to eke out a living for their families and facing tough choices as they try to do the right thing for the planet. Mai Iskander guides us into a 'garbage village,' a place so different from our own, and yet the choices they face there are so hauntingly familiar.
Ultimately, GARBAGE DREAMS makes a compelling case that modernization does not always equal progress." -- AL GORE

____________________________________________________________________________________

"GARBAGE DREAMS" DOCUWEEKS SCREENINGS AND LOCATIONS

NY: IFC CENTER LA: ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD

Fri, July 31th - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM* Fri, Aug 14th - 2:05 PM & 7:45 PM*

Sat, Aug 1st - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM *                  Sat, Aug 15th - 3:50 PM & 9:45 PM*
Sun, Aug 2nd - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM*               Sun, Aug 16th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM*
Mon, Aug 3rd - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM*                Mon, Aug 17th - 2:05 PM & 7:45 PM
Tue, Aug 4th - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM                  Tue, Aug 18th - 3:50 PM & 9:45 PM
Wed, Aug 5th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM              Wed, Aug 19th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM
Thu, Aug 6th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM*                  Thu, Aug 20th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM

*Filmmaker will be attending Q & A session after the screening

Click Here To Buy Tickets Online

To inquire about group rate (10 people and more) available at IFC in New York, please contact 212 924 6789 or email Chris Wells.

______________________________________________________________

GARBAGE DREAMS follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade and growing up in the world's largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo. It is the home to 60,000 Zaballeen, Arabic for "garbage people." Far ahead of any modern "Green" initiatives, the Zaballeen survive by recycling 80 percent of the garbage they collect. When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of its trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community.

______________________________________________________________

To view press or download press kit
go to www.garbagedreams.com

Environmental Education

Go see the movie Garbage Dreams

mathjosi — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:36:03 -0700

"GARBAGE DREAMS" TO BE FEATURED IN THE 2009 DOCUWEEKS SHOWCASE.

DOCUWEEKS provides the theatrical runs that qualify documentaries for Oscar consideration.

GARBAGE DREAMS will play at the IFC Center in New York City from July 31st - August 6th

"GARBAGE DREAMS" DOCUWEEKS SCREENINGS AND LOCATIONS

NY: IFC CENTER
Fri, July 31th - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM
Sat, Aug 1st - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM
Sun, Aug 2nd - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM
Mon, Aug 3rd - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM
Tue, Aug 4th - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM
Wed, Aug 5th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM
Thu, Aug 6th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM
______________________________________________________________

PHOTOS:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbagedreams/sets/72157617469168953/

TRAILER:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbagedreams/3490030124/

TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE:

http://www.documentary.org/docuweeks09

To view press or download press kit go to www.garbagedreams.com

Environmental Education

Check out this MS 51 student video

mathjosi — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:11:24 -0700



Please check out the video Mitchel Porcelen, a Special Education Teacher from MS 51 
in Brooklyn made with his students at the end of the school year. 
The focus is on climate change, air quality, and pollution reduction. 
The more hits they get, the more funding they get for the next project. 
Please also pass along the link to interested people. 
 
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/less-cars-better-air-nyc/

Environmental Education

Join the UFT Green Schools next meeting Tuesday, June 16th at 4:30

mathjosi — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:47:45 -0700

“Sustainability Starts At School”

Join us for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Who: Anyone interested in “greening” NYC schools

What: Agenda:
- Reflections on this year’s work
- Planning for next year
- Join the leadership team

When: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Snacks & Networking 4:00-4:30pm
Meeting 4:30–6:30pm

Where: UFT Headquarters
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Come and join our Leadership Team: Micki Josi, Coquille Houshour, Patrick Hess, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, Juliana Germak, Hope Kitts, Mitchell Porcelyn, Jonathan Pereira and Justlin LeWinter to envision the sustainability in our schools.

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

School Gardening & Composting

UFT Green Schools Earth Day Event Article

mathjosi — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:03:40 -0700

Check out our article in the New York Teacher:

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/around/how_green_is_your_school/

Plus John Shea of the DOE's School Facilities is coming to our next meeting: Tuesday, May 19th (see attached)

School Gardening & Composting

UFT Green Schools Meeting Tuesday, May 19th

mathjosi — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:59:33 -0700

“Sustainability Starts At School”

Join us for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Who: Anyone interested in “greening” NYC schools

What: Agenda:
- Partnering with the DOE Sustainability Committee
- Recycling Coordinator Position
- Training for Custodians & Recycling Coordinators
- Storage & Collection Issues
- Recycling Supplies
- Environmental Education
- Green Schools Alliance Pledge
- Community Service

When: Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Snacks & Networking 4:00-4:30pm
Meeting 4:30–6:30pm

Where: UFT Headquarters
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

School Gardening & Composting

Greening Your School: From Green Roofs to Recycling

mathjosi — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:11:49 -0700

3^rd Thursday Forum:

Greening Your School: From Green Roofs to Recycling

Date:

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Time:

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Pricing:

$10 suggested donation

Reservations: send to bcueinfo@bcue.org or call 718-788-8500 x263. Reservations encouraged online (eventbrite link to be posted on site)

Partners:

Alive Structures

Arturo Garcia-Costas/ NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

CUE

Cloud Institute

Blurb:

Join this crash course on greening your school from the issues you’ll encounter installing a green roof, to creative ways of incorporating sustainability themes into the classroom. Join local experts to discuss easy to implement projects, ways of getting environmental projects funded, opportunities for nonprofit partnerships, and what has (and hasn’t) worked in local schools.

Location:

Center for the Urban Environment, 168 7 Street, Brooklyn, NY (Garden Room)

Aisha Glover

Director, Public Affairs

Center for the Urban Environment

168 7 Street

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-788-8500 x260

718-499-3750- fax

www.bcue.org

What’s New:

Click here to support our programs and make a tax-deductible donation to CUE.

Click here to view all our newest educational programs in the CUE Catalog.

School Gardening & Composting

Worm Compost Workshop at MS447

mathjosi — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:23:08 -0700

WORM COMPOST WORKSHOP

You can recycle food waste in your classroom or at home with WORMS…
Fun, Educational & Environmentally Friendly….
Did you know that all food waste and biodegradable items that end up in a landfill do not become compost to benefit the earth’s soil since they are not exposed to the right conditions to break down? Plus, they produce methane gas, a leading cause of global warming. We can fix all of that by composting!

Who: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Master Composter Ms. Josi will present this workshop for all interested teachers, parents & kids.

What: Join us at MS 447 – The Math and Science Exploratory School to learn about setting up a worm bin to compost in your classroom or at home and get your hands dirty harvesting a worm bin. It’s a fun way to teach kids about compost, worms, waste management, science and gardening.

When: Thursday, April 2, 4-6pm

Where: MS 447 – Math & Science Exploratory School
345 Dean Street (Room 437A) Brooklyn, NY 11217

Why: To learn about Vermicomposting (Worm Composting), socialize & eat yummy snacks

Cost: The Workshop is FREE.
At the workshop you can obtain a coupon to buy your own worm bin and one-pound of red worms to start your own worm compost.

PLANNING TO ATTEND?
For questions or to sign up, contact Micki Josi at mjosi@ms447.org
PLEASE RSVP if you plan to attend since space is limited.

Feel free to bring food scraps (raw fruits & veggies) to feed the worm and/or a Tupperware container to bring home compost.

To Learn More about Composting Visit: http://www.nyccompost.org/ or www.bbg.org/compost

This event is cosponsored by MS 447 and Educating Tomorrow.

School Gardening & Composting

Educating Tomorrow Networking Happy Hour

mathjosi — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:05:47 -0700

We hope you join us for our first Educating Tomorrow Happy Hour!

Who: Anyone and everyone interested in "greening" NYC schools

What: Building community around making our schools a little more environmentally-friendly

Where: Sheep Station @ 149 4th Ave. (Corner of Douglas St), Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 857-4337

By subway, take the M or R train to Union St. in Brooklyn. Then walk north a couple of block to Douglas St.

You can also take one of the many trains that goes to Atlantic Center, exit on 4th Ave., and head south.

When: Thursday, March 12, 6 PM

Why: Because by creating a community of committed individuals, we can hopefully help to "green" our schools. As Terry Tempest Williams said, "I have inherited a belief in community, the promise that a gathering of the spirit can both create and change culture."

RSVP: shannonbs@gmail.com

If you haven't already, please:

*Join our Google Group and post away: http://groups.google.com/group/educating-tomorrow
*Sign our petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nycschoolrecycling/
*Write a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/recyclingtakeaction

We believe our schools must take the lead in moving toward a greener future by providing our children and future leaders with an environmental education and exemplary environmental programs, such as school recycling. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

School Gardening & Composting

UFT Green Schools Meeting Tuesday, March 17th

mathjosi — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:04:45 -0700

We hope to see you at our next monthly meeting, "Together We Make Schools Green".

Who: Anyone interested in "greening" NYC schools (You will come away with something you can do to help!)

What:
-    Finalize plans for our April 22, 2009 Earth Day event
-    Network with other people interested in school recycling, compost, gardening, & waste reduction
-    Discuss Strategies for accomplishing short-term goals
-    Sub-Committee Updates

When: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 4:30–6:00pm

Where:
UFT Headquarters
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Room G

RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

*Join us for a workshop for teachers on how to compost with worms in schools on May 5, 4:30-6:30 PM. The workshop will be led by Brooklyn Botanic Garden Master Composters using Brooklyn Botanic Garden workshop curriculum and materials. All participating teachers will receive a coupon to purchase one pound of red wiggler worms and a worm condo at a discounted price of $40. The workshop is part of the New York Compost Project, which aims to divert compostable materials from our waste stream., shoot us an email at uftgreenschools@uft.org.

**Also, PLEASE POST the attached meeting flyer and and our Committee flyer at your school. Thanks for your help!

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. We have a great Leadership Team: Micki Josi, Coquille Houshour, Patrick Hess, Matt Sheenan, Eileen Foster, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, Juliana Germak, Hope Kitts, Mitchell Porcelyn, Jonathan Pereira and Justlin LeWinter.

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

School Gardening & Composting

URGENT!! Support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill!

mathjosi — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:26:55 -0800

URGENT!! Support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill!

Here is an update you on the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (BBBB) and lobby visits this week in New York City.

Governor David Paterson has proposed including the BBBB in the state budget. The BBBB updates NY's 5-cent deposit law on beer and soda to include non-carbonated beverages, like bottled water, that now make up a third of the beverage market. This would increase recycling and make our communities cleaner and healthier. It also would require beverage companies, who currently keep the deposits when people don't return their bottles and cans, to turn this money over to the state. This would generate more than $200 million a year for environmental protection in New York.

We are urging state law-makers to support Governor Paterson's proposal to include the Bigger Better Bottle Bill in the state's budget next year. The next few weeks are critical to make our message heard, as the budget is expected to be approved by April 1st. Please call or write your state legislators and urge them to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill.

Also, we have scheduled meetings with a number of State Senators the week of February 18^th to discuss the BBBB with them. If you are a constituent of one of these Senators and would like to attend, please call Laura Haight at NYPIRG at 518-436-0876, ext. 258 or e-mail her at laurahaight@gmail.com. Feel free to forward this e-mail to select others who you think might be interested in attending.

Manhattan

Senator Bill Perkins, Wednesday, Feb. 18^th at 2:30

Senator Eric Schneiderman, Thursday, Feb. 19^that 1:00 (meeting with staff)

Senator Daniel Squadron, Friday, Feb. 20^th at 1:15 (max. 12 people)

Bronx

Senator Jose Serrano, Wednesday, Feb. 18^th at 3:00 (max. 6 people)

Brooklyn

Senator Kevin Parker, Thursday, Feb. 19^th at 2:30

Senator John Sampson, Thursday, Feb. 19^th at 5:15

Senator Martin Dilan, Friday, Feb. 20^th at 1:00

We were not able to schedule meetings with all the state senators in NYC, so if your senator is not on this list, please call him or her up and ask for their support of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill.

To find out who your state senator is, go to http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm.

For more information about the BBBB, visit www.nypirg.org.

Thanks!

--
Laura Haight, NYPIRG
518-436-0876, ext. 258
518-588-5481 (cell)

Recycling in NYC Schools

Come & see FLOW this Friday (2/6)

mathjosi — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:24:18 -0800

I might be speaking at this.... (short speech)

You’re invited to watch the documentary FLOW (For Love of Water) this Friday, February 6th at 7:30PM at the Park Slope United Methodist Church (6th Ave & 8th Street in Park Slope).

See below for a description of the film.

The Social Action Committee is hosting the free screening, which will feature a panel of activists talking about the world water crisis.

Hope to see you there!

Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.

Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"

Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.

You can contact Judy O’Brien, the Social Action Chair at Judy O'Brien judyobrien@yahoo.com with further questions.

Sincerely,
Micki Josi
Co-found UFT Green Schools Committee
www.educatingtomorrow.org

Quote me: "The difference between disposable and reusable equals zero waste. It all counts: add it up and think twice." - Micki Josi

"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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Worm Composting Potluck - Sunday Feb. 15th at 3pm

mathjosi — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:41:56 -0800

If you are interesting in coming to my place for a workshop on worm composting and to enjoy a potluck... email me directly for the info at micki@educatingtomorrow.org

School Gardening & Composting

Labor and Structure: Overlooked Aspects of Recycling in NYC - with Sam MacBride

mathjosi — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:35:05 -0800

I went to see her speak at Solar One last year too and it was very interesting and informative!

What

Labor and Structure: Overlooked Aspects of Recycling in NYC - with Sam MacBride

When

Monday, January 26, 2009 7:00 PM

Where

Solar One
East 23rd St & East River [@north end of Stuyvesant Cove park, near the 23rd Street entrance and the Gulf Gas station]
New York NY 10010
(212) 505-6050

RSVP Deadline

Your organizer has set an RSVP deadline for this event. You have until January 26, 2009 6:00 PM to RSVP.

School Gardening & Composting

Students Invited to Submit Their Creative Energy Project Entries

mathjosi — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:41:58 -0800

Philanthropy News Digest at the Foundation Center's Web site.

Students Invited to Submit Their Creative Energy Project Entries

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=239800031

Recycling in NYC Schools

Parents for Climate Protection

mathjosi — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:06:17 -0800

Parents for Climate Protection * is excited to present our 3rd Annual House Party for parents and children with panel discussion followed by an "arts and crafts" letter writing activity. (People unaccompanied by children are welcome, too!)
As in previous years, several amazing experts will share their knowledge on climate change with our attendees. *
*
*Professor Allen Frei, Ph.D., climatologist at Hunter College and CUNY, and Deputy Director of the Sustainable Cities Institute
*Jackson Morris,* Air and Energy Associate, Environmental Advocates of New York
*Amy Larkin** *Solutions Director, National Greenpeace
*
For the crafts activity, we provide all the materials necessary for the attendees to write letters to their elected officials on the urgent need for federal legislation limiting greenhouse gas emissions. We encourage families to work together with children creating beautiful nature collages and parents adding a message on their behalf. If you just want to come to hear the presentations and ask questions, that's perfectly fine as well.
Date: Sunday, January 25th, 3:00 p.m.
General location: South Slope

Please e-mail to rsvp and obtain the address: nyclaudia@earthlink.net <mailto:nyclaudia@earthlink.net>

Happy Holidays!
Claudia
Parents for Climate Protection
www.climateactivism.org <http://www.climateactivism.org>

Recycling in NYC Schools

Garbage Dreams Screening... Thursday, Dec 18 at 8pm at 92nd Y Tribeca

mathjosi — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:54:34 -0800

The woman who made Blue Vinyl is hosting a screening of three in-the-works documentaries. Coquille and I were invited to attend to give our feedback about a film called Garbage Dreams about kids who recycle up to 85% of their waste in Cairo. Please come to the screening if you want to give your input on how to promote the film in the US:

http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T%2DMM5FD19

Recycling in NYC Schools

UFT Green Schools Meeting on Tuesday, Dec 16th at 4pm

mathjosi — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:23:36 -0800

“Collaborating On-line:
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 on-line with a “green” community, plus we will hear from CENYC's Teen Speakers Bureau, a group of high schools students will present on what they do to get the message out about school recycling.
When:     Tuesday, December 16, 4–6:00pm
(networking from 4-4:30)
Where:    UFT Headquarters
50 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

School Gardening & Composting

UFT Green Schools Meeting on Tuesday, Dec 16th at 4pm

mathjosi — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:28:10 -0800

“Collaborating On-line:
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 on-line with a “green” community, plus we will hear from the Teen Speakers on Recycling
When:     Tuesday, December 16, 4–6:00pm
(networking from 4-4:30)
Where:    UFT Headquarters
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: info@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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Notes on Increasing Your School Collection

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:22:14 -0800

At the start of school year at my new school, I got onto the Department of Sanitation web site to find out what my new school's recycling collection schedule is. I'd been told this is where school recycling coordinators should go to find out when their school's recycling is collected. It's supposed to be as easy as typing in your address.

In the past, I never had an easy time finding out what my school recycling collection schedule was, but I kept trying because DOS and DOE people assured me it's simple, with a tone suggesting I must be doing something wrong.

Last year I ended up calling 311 to file a complaint that I couldn't verify my recycling collection schedule and that it was actually being collected when it was supposed to be. 311 said I couldn't get the number for my garage and I couldn't file a complaint unless I had put recycling on the curb on the proper collection day (that I wasn't sure of) and it hadn't been picked up. (But what if it had been picked up by a garbage truck because they put it out on the wrong day?) I explained that I'd made special arrangements with my garage for mechanized (dumpster) paper recycling and that's not reflected in the online schedule at all, but it didn't make a difference--they wouldn't help me.

So, here I was again. I was at another school and I had to set about trying to tackle an issue I felt I never really solved during the past four years as my previous school.

This time around it went a little more smoothly. I'm hoping this is a result of the hearing. This is what happened:

I went to the DOS site and typed my school's address and this is what I got:

The collection schedule for
300 ADELPHI STREET (Brooklyn) is:

Refuse: Tuesday Friday
Recycling: Friday

Place refuse and recyclables at the curb the night before your collection day.

In the hearing, the DOS testified that schools can get paper collection up to four times a week and their glass, metal and plastic collected two times a week. It didn't make sense, so I called 311 again. Here's the conversation:

311: We don't have information for school recycling.
Me: Well, you are supposed to.
311: Your recycling collection is only one day a week, Fridays.
Me: Is that for all recycling?
311: Yes.
Me: That doesn't sound right.
311: Hold on one second. (I wait much longer.) We just don't know. They may go by the schedule I just gave you or they may be a different one. My supervisor suggests you call the Department of Sanitation Headquarters at 646-885-3769.
Me: What are their hours?
311: It doesn't give me that information, but I'm guessing 9-5.

So I called the Department of Sanitation Headquarters (I think their hours are 6-2 PM) and they told me the name of my school garage and gave me contact information for the Supervisor: District 2 in Brooklyn: District Super of the Garage: Thomas Walsh, 718-768-4105 or 4128.

When I spoke with him (you have to catch them early in the day), I requested a paper recycling dumpster, which he said he would look into and get back to me the following week (I still haven't heard from him and now he won't return my phone calls). But the good thing was that he increased our paper collection to four times per week and glass, metal and plastics to two times per week. I immediately made a poster for the custodians.

I have since been able to get the Supervisor's Mr. Walsh's email, so I'm cc'ing the DOE on emails (and others) so I have an electronic trail.

I'm still frustrated that we can't get a paper dumpster. We have twice the student population of my previous school and they have six dumpsters.

I would like to hear everyone else's experience: coquille@educatingtomorrow.org.

Recycling in NYC Schools

UFT Green Schools Meeting on Thurs., Nov. 20th from 4:00 - 5:30pm

mathjosi — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:27:18 -0800

“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

"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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Zero Waste Conference in Albany, NY on Saturday, Nov 15.

mathjosi — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:24:41 -0800

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: _____________________________

Recycling in NYC Schools

The Indypendent Covers Event

coquille — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:51:06 -0700

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!

Recycling in NYC Schools

What to do with your Plastic #6

mathjosi — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:46:59 -0700

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Come see Garbage Warrior and Q & A with Elizabeth Royte this Friday!

mathjosi — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:39:03 -0700

community for a sustainable future

Fall Events Reminder!

Limited space is filling up - Register on our website Now!

Solar Powered Film Series @ Solar 1
$FREE!$ All activities begin at 8pm and films begin shortly thereafter - details and film descriptions here

September 4 "Clean" Coal? - Burning the Future, Q&A with director/producer David Novack

September 5 Green Design - Garbage Warrior, Q&A with Elizabeth Royte, author of Garbage Land and Bottlemania

September 6 Food - The Future of Food, preceded by the Green Edge NYC Eco-Tour Scavenger Hunt...Brooklyn!

Eco-Tour Scavenger Hunt...Brooklyn!

September 6, 4:30-7pm

WHERE: Start point is Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park. We'll meet near the gazebo on the right hand side of the street leading into the park.
HOW MUCH: $7 pre-payment, $10 cash/check day of
WHAT: The Eco-Tour Scavenger Hunt goes Brooklyn! Grab a friend or meet a new one, get your clue sheet and...GO! You have two hours to find all of the clues for the greenest restaurants, businesses, buildings, parks, etc. in Brooklyn right now. Gift bags are provided for the most eco-savvy team. Bring your bike if you wish! The end point for this game will be the final showing of the Solar Powered Film Festival at Solar 1 in Manhattan.
Please bring the following:
A digital camera, Reusable bag to gather some goodies, Comfortable shoes, Water, Pen or pencil

Green Boroughs Walking Tour: Lower East Side, Manhattan

September 21, 12:45-3pm

WHERE: Starting at Birdbath Bakery, 223 First Avenue, Manhattan

HOW MUCH: Adult $25 pre-payment, $30 day of Pay Now.
Student $15 pre-payment, $20 day of Pay Now.

WHAT: The Green Boroughs Walking Tour of the East Village and Lower East Side will show you the newest, coolest, greenest retail stores, restaurants, green affordable apartment buildings, community gardens, and other places that are green and sustainable in New York City. We will start our tour at Birdbath Bakery, 223 First Avenue near East 13th Street at 1 pm. This bakery not only uses organic and locally grown ingredients in its products but it was completely constructed from sustainable and recycled materials. For example, the insulation under the counter is made from recycled denim, the paint is non-toxic milk paint, and the floor is made from reclaimed cork. Another stop on the tour is the 6BC Botanical Garden. It is one of many wonderful community gardens operated by volunteers in the East Village. We will also see an example of green affordable housing, visit fantastic green retail stores, and learn some history along the way. You don't want to miss this tour!

Eco-Eatery Tour @ The Green Table featuring The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education

September 22, 7-9pm

WHERE: The Green Table, Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave, New York, NY 10011
HOW MUCH: Space is limited! $45 pre-payment required. Pay IN FULL Now. You may reserve your spot with a 50% deposit, which is refundable up to September 17, 2008, 8pm. Pay 50% refundable deposit now. A portion of your dinner payment will benefit The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education.

WHAT: This Eco-Eatery Tour will be extra special because we will be honoring not one, but two, inspiring sustainability initiatives happening right here in New York City! Hosting the September 2008 Tour is The Green Table, a charming organic eatery, nestled in the heart of the Chelsea Market. The daily menu reflects what's freshest at local farms and greenmarkets and the wine and beer list is composed of sustainable, organic and biodynamic offerings. On this night, we will have Seasonal Hors d'Oeuvres, red and white wines, a seasonal herbal infusion and sparkling water.
Also on the menu of recognition this night is The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, the premier organization that equips school systems K-12 and their communities with the core content, competencies and habits of mind that characterize education for a sustainable future. For the month of September, The Green Table will donate 2% of its profits to The Cloud Institute!
BONUS: Meet Mary Cleaver, President & Founder of The Cleaver Co. & The Green Table and Jaimie Cloud, President & Founder of The Cloud Institute!

CityWide Supper Club @ Housing Works Bookstore Cafe (new location!)

October 5, 6-9pm

WHERE: 126 Crosby St., just south of Houston, Manhattan, 10012
HOW MUCH: $5 pre-payment or $8 cash the day of
WHAT: Each season we gather together for a citywide feast and to celebrate our Neighborhood Supper Clubs. Each Citywide Supper Club celebrates a season of delicious meals, fruitful discussion and local community building done through our Neighborhood Supper Club program. These events feature speakers and providea forum for discusing a sustainable future.

WHAT TO BRING: Attendees are encouraged to bring vegetarian or vegan food and/or drink that is fresh, local seasonal and organic. The Housing Works Cafe will be open for us to purchase baked goods, coffee, tea, beer and wine...all of which support the fight against HIV/AIDS and Homelessness.

Back by Popular Demand: Urban Foraging with Leda Meredith in Prospect Park

October 19, 10:15 - 1pm Rain or Shine!

WHERE: Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Meet at the Grand Army Plaza entrance near the Gazebo.
HOW MUCH: $15 pre-payment or RSVP and pay cash the day of.
WHAT: Food from the park? What!? Yes, indeed you can find food right in the city's playground. Take a guided tour of the urban forest, also known as Prospect Park, with forager, committed locavore, botanist, (June Supper Club Speaker and July foraging guide!) Leda Meredith. Leda will once again be sharing her wisdom and teaching us how to identify edibles in the urban terrain. Autumn's cooler weather means that we will be looking for wild greens, nuts, root vegetables, the last of the summer fruits and maybe even some mushrooms. At the end of the foraging walk, we will spend some time sitting in the park while Leda takes Q& A and we taste treats made with wild edible ingredients.
WHAT TO BRING: Comfortable walking shoes, Water, Pen and Pad (there won't be a test, but you may want to jot a few notes!), Digital Camera (to photo the plants we ID and of course to capture the many happy memories of urban foraging)
BONUS: For those of you who missed Leda at the June Supper Club or on the July foraging tour, you have another chance to purchase her new memoir, Botany, Ballet & Dinner from Scratch, at the foraging event. Citywide Supper Club Coordinator, Joanna, purchased a copy at the June event and was so enthralled by the stories that she finished the book in it's entirety by the next morning. She has since given copies to family and friends who are equally enthusiastic. We highly recommend it! (Bring cash or a check since there are no credit card machines in Prospect Park - $18.50 with tax)

Please visit our website to sign up for your Neighborhood Supper Club and see what else is brewing up at Green Edge NYC!

community for a sustainable future

Green Edge Collaborative is a social network for New York City residents to learn and discuss how our consumption choices affect our social, environmental and economic worlds in our local neighborhoods as well as our global community.

Through community engagement, Green Edge Collaborative facilitates an ongoing dialogue that builds awareness and inspires action toward a sustainable future.

To be added to or removed from this mailing list,

please email: info@GreenEdgeNYC.org

Recycling in NYC Schools

Going Green

coquille — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:34:30 -0700

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?

Recycling in NYC Schools

Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board Meeting (S.W.A.B.)

mathjosi — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:55:51 -0700

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Are you one of Mr. Shear's 372?

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:08:42 -0700

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?

Recycling in NYC Schools

P.S. 154 Stops Styrofoam Lunch Trays

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:01:10 -0700

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Compost and Recycling at MS447

mathjosi — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:27:43 -0700

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Compost and Letters

mathjosi — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:38:55 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

NYC School Recycling Action Committee January Meeting!

admin — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:53:02 -0800

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!

Recycling in NYC Schools

Photographing Our Invisible Waste Stream

admin — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:05:14 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

12/7 Meeting Minutes

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:12:58 -0800

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):

Recycling in NYC Schools

Two videos worth watching

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:35:43 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

NYCORE Open Meeting This Friday Dec 14th at 5pm at NYU

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:27:29 -0800

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*

Recycling in NYC Schools

Creating Balance in an Unjust World

admin — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:52:08 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Dept of Sanitation Resources to Support Recycling in Schools

mathjosi — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:31:21 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

NYC School Recycling Action Committee Meeting

mathjosi — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:39:34 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Recycling Rubbish in the Hood

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:09:15 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Understanding Recycling, Finally! Part II: Common Misconceptions

mathjosi — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:52:05 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

WNYC story on NYC School Recycling!

mathjosi — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:39:22 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

NYC School Recycling Action Committee Meeting

mathjosi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:34:22 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

Teaching Students about Garbage and Recycling

mathjosi — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:04:26 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

My Letter to the Mayor

mathjosi — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:56:38 -0800

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?

Recycling in NYC Schools

Who are we? School Recycling Action Committee

mathjosi — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:24:00 -0800

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

School Recycling Action Committee Minutes

mathjosi — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:02:22 -0800

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!

Recycling in NYC Schools

City Limits Article: THE TRASHMAN COMETH: TOWARD A WASTE-FREE CITY

mathjosi — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:10:45 -0800

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

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

Recycling in NYC Schools

How to start a school recycling program?

mathjosi — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:43:41 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Watch the Video: Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage

mathjosi — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:07:35 -0800

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?

Recycling in NYC Schools

Letters to Klein

mathjosi — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:46:01 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Post Article on School Recycling

mathjosi — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:36:01 -0800

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!.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Recycling Action Committee Meeting

mathjosi — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:31:59 -0800

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.

Recycling in NYC Schools

Where's the DOE on Recycling?

admin — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:50:40 -0800

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.