School Recycling Program
I Love A Clean San Diego provides technical assistance to schools and districts looking to improve their recycling and sustainability efforts. Through the school recycling program, ILACSD gives campuses the tools they need to promote an environmentally sustainable place of learning. We work with employees at all levels of a district to establish a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction program that maximizes waste diversion, leading to a more sustainable future for the students.
ILACSD helps to incorporate traditional and organic waste recycling practices at schools.Through the program, students and staff recycle materials like cartons, cardboard & paper, bottles and containers. They separate extra food scraps and napkins, and that material gets taken to a local industrial facility and made into compost or digestate. Extra food that can still be eaten is put on a share table for other students to eat. Through this process, schools have seen a 90- 96% reduction in landfilled waste, which saves schools money on hauling fees, saves space in our landfills, and encourages and eco-friendly mindset, independence, and initiative in students.
Successes
California’s Statewide mandate, SB 1383, aims to curb climate change through reducing greenhouse gasses, and it lays out requirements that will help us meet emissions goals. Under SB 1383, commercial properties, including schools, need to divert organic materials from the landfill. When organic materials, such as food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard waste, sit in a landfill, they generate Methane, which is a gas with 80 times more warming potential than Carbon Dioxide. Landfills are the third largest emitter of methane in the United States, and organic material accounts for about 40% of the material found in landfills. By handling organic materials properly, we can significantly reduce methane emissions and create a cleaner environment.
Did you know that most of the waste deposited in landfills is from the commercial sector? And did you know that the large majority of that waste, is not waste at all? AB 341 requires that all commercial properties (including schools) recycle. Recycling saves space in our landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and saves natural resources.
What Does This Program Look Like?
Step 1: Baseline Assessment
ILACSD visits the school for the first time. During this visit, a staff member will meet with the principal, custodian, and kitchen staff to discuss current processes around procurement and disposal of materials on campus. The staff will do a walk-through of campus to assess current waste management practices and needs. Based on that information, ILACSD creates a customized implementation plan based on their observations.
Step 2: Training
ILACSD provides staff training on new local recycling mandates, the changes outlined in the implementation plan, and best practices. ILACSD also provides student training on the importance of recycling, and how to properly sort their items.
Step 3: Implementation
ILACSD returns to the school to implement the school’s customized plan. During that time, we will bring items needed including: recycling bins of various sizes, signage, lunchtime sorting equipment, and resource guides. We will help out with lunchtime sorting, walking students through the process, or standing by to answer questions. During implementation, ILACSD also works with custodial staff on creating an optimal bin setup around campus.
Step 4: Check-In/Wrap Up
I Love A Clean San Diego will come back to the school to check in with students and staff and track progress over time and provide any additional support needed.
Interested in the School Recycling Program for your school district or jurisdiction? Contact us at recycling@cleansd.org.
FAQs
Prices vary based on district and school size, location, and infrastructure needs. Depending on your location, you may be eligible to receive this program at no cost to you. Contact recycling@cleansd.org to learn more.
ILACSD is a trusted leader with longstanding experience mobilizing students, residents, schools, and businesses to engage in meaningful environmental action. Our School Recycling Program (SRP) is a comprehensive program meant to provide full guidance, program infrastructure, and assistance to schools in order to introduce and maintain traditional and organics recycling on their campus. You will be equipped with the full suite of support for a successful recycling program, including comprehensive trainings, guides, material procurement, and hands-on assistance. As a part of the program, ILACSD develops and facilitates a customized implementation plan based on schools’ demographics and preferences – this is inclusive of planning, execution, and communication. If you have no idea where to start with achieving compliance and implementing a recycling program, we've got you!
As a part of the program, ILACSD procures all needed materials such as bins and signage. Cost of materials will be discussed and included in any new contract agreements (those who are eligible to receive this program free of charge are provided materials).
Comprehensive training and education are a key element of this program. We not only equip your district and school(s) with the needed infrastructure for the program, but also equip your staff and students with the training and education needed to successfully adapt to the changes on campus. The program includes training for custodial/grounds teams, kitchen staff, teachers, and students. We are also able to provide a separate training for school green teams.
Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, in part through organic waste recycling. Currently, organic waste in landfills generates about 20% of the state’s methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas with 80x more warming potential than carbon dioxide. Under SB 1383, all residents and commercial properties, including schools, must recycle organic waste, including food scraps, food soiled paper, and yard/landscaping waste. This law took effect January 1, 2022. Under this law, schools and districts are also required to donate excess edible food that would otherwise be thrown away.
This program will not only assist your school in complying with SB 1383 and other local laws, but will also be fostering a campus culture that values sustainability, action and care for the environment. This program will help divert potentially hundreds of pounds of food waste and recyclable items from the landfill each week. Food waste will be composted into nutrient rich soil instead of breaking down improperly in a landfill and emitting methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. Recyclables will be recovered in a Materials Recovery Facility, and be given the chance to have a second life.