Educating Tomorrow

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):

• Jenn started a recycling program in her school. Her principal is very supportive, and she hopes to get a recycling books into their school-wide character education program.
• Susann and Hannah's school has no recycling program. Susan was inspired by an article in NY Times about an art installation of the Styrofoam trays used in schools. They want to start a program in their school.
• Marie has been teaching at a science-focused high school in Manhattan for three years. She started a recycling program with another teacher, but is struggling because the teacher she started the program with is no longer there to help. They have an environmental team that collects and takes out their paper (the made collection containers out of decorated cardboard boxes) and are on good terms with their custodians.
• Maddie is in her second year of teaching and she's sick of the fact that there is no recycling happening at her school and wants to do something about it.
• Les is an alumnus of a Queens school that has a great recycling program. He is interested in volunteering at his old high school to help them extend their program.
• Katie wants to start a recycling program at her school.
• Rebecca works in environmental education and she wants to help out in any way she can.
• Freya with legislative member to Bill DeFazio office discussed how they are working with PS 154 on the issue of Styrofoam trays, as part of the legislation they are working on to ban Styrofoam trays, which she reminded everyone is a slow process because legislation controlled by chancellor and the state.
• Susan is a librarian at an elementary and middle school. She started an enrichment group called Kids Saving Planet Earth. Part of their program included recycling, and they instituted the golden recycling can awards, which have encouraged students to recycle beautifully. They have since expanded the rewards program to include golden, silver, bronze recycling cans. They have a lunchtime group, a green squad. Last year they also had a worm compost bin. They currently have a battery and cartridges collection, which they drop off at 3R living.
• Coquille discussed her elementary school recycling program, which consists of Lead Recycling classes in charge of paper collection on each floor. She expressed her ongoing concern regarding the lack of frequent container recycling pickups, which means what we are recycling (bagged and ready to go) just ends up in the dumpster.
• Christina with RecycleThis! is supportive and wants to share information and resources.
• Lisa and Maura want to start a recycling program at their school in Brooklyn.
• Micki who started a recycling program at her school in Bed-Sty which won honorable mention at the Golden Apple Awards.  Her students also collected the paper, weighed it, graphed it and took it the curb, yet custodians requently threw it out and/or sanitation wouldn't pick it up.  She wants to work on the bigger issue to push the DOE to enforce their regulations on recycling by hiring recycling coordinators in schools, plan interdisciplinary curriculum on garbage and recycling, and raise public awareness about the fact that NYC schools breaking the law by NOT recycling.

Micki, Marie, Susan and Coquille talked about how they set up their recycling programs.

Freya asked about what was working schools. Teachers responded that the only way to start a program is to train a core group of students, such as Lead Recyclers or a Green team, to educate the school community about the importance of, and how to recycle, as well as collect recycling. Everyone who has started such programs are continuously impressed by students' enthusiasm for service learning.

It was decided that we would build momentum by supporting each other in planning Earth Week activities our schools, and perhaps even have a Student Recycling Fair where students share their recycling programs with one another. We also discussed contacting the media about our activities to bring attention to the issues we are having with creating and maintaining successful programs.

It was discussed that if you are trying to find out how and when your recycling is collected, you should contact the Department of Sanitation and find out who your garage is by giving them your address. This may take a number of phone calls. You could even start by calling 311.

Coquille said she would post a list of her books on recycling in a blog. Susan said she would add to that list.

Coquille also said she would post the list of steps for setting up a recycling program and a list of supplies and where you might get them.

Janet mentioned the UFT has a humane education project, which includes environmental education, and will come to school and participate.

Those interested in creating system change discuss wanting to focus on changing the type and frequency of collection. We also want to build allies with custodians, and begin a conversation with them about recycling in schools.

Everyone was invited to signup on the Educating Tomorrow Group and start posting blogs and questions and answers on Forums.  Some things people can read about are Micki's post on letters to the chancellor, submitting op-eds to the Post and NY Times, how to set up a program at your school, ideas for interdisciplinary curriculum on garbage and recycling including links to several documentary videos, art projects, and articles on-line.

Maddy said she try to get the FellowBlast! to cover information about student letter writing and petition recycling campaigns. Coquille said she would email her with sample student letters and petitions.

Maddy also suggested we contact the UFT about holding a workshop on how to start a recycling program in your school. Someone mentioned it would be great for an established program to create a PowerPoint of their program to present at such as workshop. She said she would contact the UFT about how to do this.

It was also mentioned we could get speakers for the PTA with the Mayor's Council on the Environment group.

Freya discussed organizing a "town hall" where the Department of Sanitation, related organizations, and schools are present to share information and resources.

Our next meeting will be January 11, 2008 at 5 p.m. Freya Riel said she would help us find a bigger location for our next meeting. Rebecca said she would coordinate the logistics with Freya.

Possible agenda items for January meeting: updating on our program, showing the web site, organizing the information the site, deciding on a new committee name, media work, possible town hall planning, earth day planning.