Getting a Recycling Program Started in Your School

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Getting a Recycling Program Started in Your School

How have we done? • How to start your own Recycling Program

Recycling Emblem Every day each Arkansan disposes an average of 4.4 pounds of trash. That works out to about 1618 pounds of trash per person per year. WOW! In 1993, 85 percent of the trash generated in Arkansas went to one of the 64 landfills located around the state. In 1994, the number of landfills went from 60 to 24. These same 24 landfills are in operation in 2001, but some have less than 7 years of capacity remaining.

The reduction of landfills happened for several reasons. Many of the smaller landfills did not meet the new Environmental Protection Agency's new standards. Solid waste legislation in Arkansas now encourages a regional approach to waste management, encouraging several counties to work together, thus the move to fewer landfills that serve a multi-county area.

This means that the 4.4 pounds of trash that we each produce must travel farther for proper landfill disposal. Thus increasing the cost of disposing of our trash.

Some of that trash can be recycled and reused, decreasing the need to haul it long distances to landfills and to help reserve natural resources.

In 1991 the Arkansas legislature passed a law (Act 749) that established a recycling goal for the state. That goal is to recycle 30 percent of our 1991 waste stream by 1995 and to recycle 40 percent by the year 2000. New goals are being set by the 2001 Arkansas Legislature.

How have we done?

In 1991, the waste stream or amount of waste landfilled was 1,941,363 tons or 1618 pounds per person per year.
We met the '95 goal. And are on track to meet or exceed the 2000 goal. In '99 Arkansans recycled 852,565 tons of waste - 44%!

This same law stated that schools, government offices and colleges and universities must establish source separation and recycling programs. (Source separation is the process of removing a particular type of recyclable material from the solid waste stream at the point of generation or under the control of the generator for the purpose of collection and recycling).

To comply with the law, public schools must develop recycling programs. Schools are also vital forums for educating young people and the community about the problems and solutions of solid waste management.

A school recycling program can impart valuable hands-on experience that encourages students to make recycling a part of their lifestyle -- not only at school, but also at home and in the future. These programs can help young people become active learners and apply classroom skills to solve real problems. Students come to realize that they can make a difference.

This web site is intended to help to reduce waste in schools. It outlines how to set up a school recycling program and suggests ways to keep it going. The approach you choose for your recycling program will probably vary from the one described here, but the ideas presented here are to get you started.

You will probably not be able to implement all the suggestions for recycling and waste reduction at first, start with a few and keep adding more as time goes on. Many early recycling programs failed because they tried to do too much, too soon. We all had to learn to crawl before we could walk, so start slowing and learn from your experiences.

How to start your own Recycling Program

University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 South University Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 • USA
Phone (501) 671-2000 • Fax (501) 671-2209

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