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School Beverage Container Recycling Challenge
Program Lessons Learned implementing the
Florida Innovative Grant funded program
School Beverage Container Recycling Challenge
Program Lessons Learned implementing the
Florida Innovative Grant funded program
Collier County Solid Waste Management Department
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Objective Objective
Bottles and Cans are not garbage anymore!
Increase school recycling Save schools money Saving landfill airspace. Promote the culture of
recycling with school children and employees.
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American Beverage Association’s recycling advertising program
American Beverage Association’s recycling advertising program
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Don’t Lecture Me, Entertain MeDon’t Lecture Me, Entertain Me
Market testing revealed people do not respond well to guilt trips and lectures about the value of
recycling.
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Transformation of RecyclablesTransformation of Recyclables
People are fascinated with transformation. People are impressed with all the cool, useful items their recyclables can be made into.
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A second chance at lifeA second chance at life
This campaign has messages that demonstrate the results of recycling in ads and radio that people notice, enjoy and remember.
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‘Reincarnation’‘Reincarnation’
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Grant ResourcesGrant Resources
Bottle shaped recycle bins Radio ads and TV commercials Recycling Program posters,
video, brochures and Power Point Traveling Trophies and
certificates
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School Beverage Container Recycling Challenge
School Beverage Container Recycling Challenge
New recycling containers in schools
serve as visual reminders
to recycle.
This is a
Voluntary Program.
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Recycle Challenge Elements Recycle Challenge Elements
1. Recycling art contest 2. School vs. School recycling collection
competition 3. Recycling TV commercials4. Recycling Creative videos5. Lip syncing recycling radio ads
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Recycling Art ChallengeRecycling Art Challenge
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School vs. School Recycling competitionSchool vs. School Recycling competition
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Recycling TV CommercialsRecycling TV Commercials
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Recycling Creative VideoRecycling Creative Video
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Recycling Lip SyncRecycling Lip Sync
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Bottle Shaped Recycling BinsBottle Shaped Recycling Bins
Large price break when ordering a truck load (260) 520 bins for $33,106, 330 for $21,645
Attractive design may encourage theft Attractive design supported by professional
recycling TV commercials posters and program video
Recycling bin top is difficult to remove No wheels on the base of bin
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Dr. “Botella” & FDEP officerDr. “Botella” & FDEP officer
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Bottle Shaped Recycling BinsBottle Shaped Recycling Bins
Place bins near where students eat, not just by vending machines
2/49 schools complained about bee problems during the winter.
Important to empty the bins weekly to avoid odor problems
Bring extra parts and make time to assemble bins on location
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Disadvantages of Bottle shaped containersDisadvantages of Bottle shaped containers
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Recyclingbin.comRecyclingbin.com
Corrugated Plastic cardboard
Style recycling bins
330 for $20,106
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CanablesCanables
330 for $93,637
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Recy-calRecy-cal
330 for $23,340
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Motivated Custodian staffMotivated Custodian staff
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New Labels, old bins?New Labels, old bins?
New Labels may work on old recycling bins
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Waste Audits Waste Audits
We sorted clean cardboard/paper and beverage containers in separate clear plastic bags
Approximately 50% to 65% of school trash was clean recyclables
Bring portable tables to sort trash Start early as MSW is collected
everyday at schools
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School Waste AuditsSchool Waste Audits
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School Waste AuditsSchool Waste Audits
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Waste AuditsWaste Audits
Photograph the plastic bags of sorted clean containers and mixed paper in front of the schools’ dumpster.
Many clean textbooks from classrooms and school libraries are thrown out at the end of the semester
Lockers are cleaned and party food in containers at end of the semester
On site Sheriff’s housing and day care centers may contaminate recycling containers
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Difficulty in establishing base line recycling information
Difficulty in establishing base line recycling information
Plant Operators work for each Principal, not central administration
The Recycling hauler mixes school recycling collections with other commercial accounts
No variability with Recycling hauler’s pre challenge inventory
Front loader drivers don’t get out of trucks
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Difficulty in establishing base line recycling information
Difficulty in establishing base line recycling information
Only 27/50 plant operators used the MSW/Recycling weekly inventory sheet
There is wide variation between the number of recycling bins and how recycling is collected by school
Wide variation between the amount of recyclable generated by school, well water, economics, grade level, Adult Ed
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Delivering Bottle Shaped binsDelivering Bottle Shaped bins
Network as county staff delivers bins. Perform waste/recycling audits Start delivery early and finish by 1pm Bring a GPS to map efficient routes 12 bins per High School, 6 per Middle
and 4 per Elementary are optimal
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Waste/Recycling AuditsWaste/Recycling Audits
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Waste/Recycling AuditsWaste/Recycling Audits
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Delivering Bottle Shaped binsDelivering Bottle Shaped bins
Play the 4 minute Program DVD to the Plant Operator, Head Custodian and Cafeteria Manager and leave as a training tool
Record information on lap top between deliveries
Budget for requests for assistance It’s most efficient to use a roll off truck
container to deliver bins Give the schools a few weeks to get used to
the bins before you start the competition
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Delivering Bottle Shaped binsDelivering Bottle Shaped bins
Just drive to the back cafeteria delivery door Be prepared that many custodians and
cafeteria workers may not speak English
Prepare for request for more 96-gallon mixed containers and/or paper recycling carts.
Take digital camera photos ask about the school's recycling routine
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Creating a contest DVDCreating a contest DVD
Students are very busy, schedule in advance of Holiday and testing
Use close shots to avoid identifying schools
Elementary/middle school and a high school version
Not all Drama and TV production teachers work together
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Creating a contest DVDCreating a contest DVD
Get parent’s permission to video tape students
Insert supporting documents into the video DVD
Use the school’s internal delivery system to save postage
Deliver materials in used county interoffice envelopes
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Translating a contest DVDTranslating a contest DVD
Make several copies of the DVDs before you hand them out to the translators and superiors.
Have the translators working of the script immediately after script is approved by PMT.
You don’t have to translate word for word. The MS Word translations were only about
80% accurate. Creole and Spanish voice overs may be
better for than written sub-titles
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Promoting the Recycling ChallengePromoting the Recycling Challenge
Many Principals too busy to watch the DVD and read the brochure
Start the recycling competition at beginning of school
Enlist School Program Administrative Assistance
Include a PowerPoint as some classrooms don’t have DVD readers
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Promoting the Recycling ChallengePromoting the Recycling Challenge
Make a DVD continuous loop version for playing at open houses, festivals, parks
Many teachers change schools each year
Find a recycling Champion for each school
Visit the Green Clubs, Drama & TV production classes.
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Promoting the Recycling ChallengePromoting the Recycling Challenge
Recruit Band Boosters to use recycling bins and make announcements
Make presentations to PTO Run the PSAs on the Government and school
channel Urge Custodian and Cafeteria Managers to
use Program DVD as a training video Deliver recycling bins to Administration Bldg.
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Recycling Drawing ContestRecycling Drawing Contest
Art Contest winners are featured in a Calendar, partnering with Keep America Beautiful.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/AR/2006/arcoordinators06.htm
www.recycleitnow.net http://www.bottlesandcans.com/
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Art Contest ChallengesArt Contest Challenges
Select the best winners or one for each of 12 classes plus front & back of the calendar?
Select one winner per school? Emphasize misspellings, non 8.5 x 11
page size non vibrant colors, repetition of themes, cursive not block letters, non horizontal art are disqualifications
Provide links to post recycled products
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Large room needed for judgingLarge room needed for judging
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Winners & Runners up featured during Earth Day event
Winners & Runners up featured during Earth Day event
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School vs. School recycling collection competition
School vs. School recycling collection competition
Each school Principal decides priorities of Plant Operator and school staff
Outgoing custodians and teachers can cajole students into recycling
Schools vary by 40% to 65% by on the amount of recyclables thrown away, economics and Principal’s priorities
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Just leave containers on tablesJust leave containers on tables
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School vs. School recycling collection competition
School vs. School recycling collection competition
The recycling vendor’s recycling collection information was inconsistent
17/49 schools submitted weekly recycling/solid waste inventory sheets.
Winners were selected based on submitted data, not level of recycling collection
Important to be ready to order more recycling collection carts for enthusiastic schools
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Schools vary on recycling binsSchools vary on recycling bins
96 gallon carts for paper & comingled, metals trailers, paper roll offs, holes cut on lid of lined trash bins
Some schools only have a cafeteria container and cardboard recycling dumpster
Two new and one established school did not recycle but were charged
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School TV ProgramsSchool TV Programs
The school morning TV shows can feature the recycling commercials and contest information and introduce the bottle shaped containers.
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Schools vary on recycling collectionsSchools vary on recycling collections
Jr ROTC, challenged students and recycling clubs sometimes assist.
Some custodians take class room recycling to back dumpsters, others locate recycling carts around schools.
Schools with no break between lunch shifts or that don’t allow students to move from tables during lunch don’t like bottle shaped containers as much
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Non Public School ChallengesNon Public School Challenges
Some Private Schools have lunch catered
Most Private schools don’t have daily TV programs, only radio and class assemblies
Many religious schools are K-8 Many private schools ban soda Free Recycling bins an incentive
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Locate Bins at Youth CentersLocate Bins at Youth Centers
YMCA, WMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs sponsor dances, after school activities, graduations and camps
County Parks Baseball and soccer leagues Hotels
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Student TV commercialsStudent TV commercials
First Place Collier Schools video winner “Haunted Recycling Bottles”
Click on black square to watch video
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Student TV commercialsStudent TV commercials
Second Place Collier Video Winner“Recycling Warriors”
Click on black square to start video
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Keep America BeautifulKeep America Beautiful
Iron Eyes Cody 1971 Earth Day
http://www.kab.org/media.asp?id=246&rid=250
Click on Black
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Recycling Video ContestRecycling Video Contest
1. Make presentations to TV, Music, Drama, Media/Library classes
2. Require recycling videos & lip syncing as part of their grade
3. Follow the Florida FAME film rules to professionalize the process
4. Require students to title their video and submit names in block letters
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Recycling Video ContestRecycling Video Contest
5. Encourage video and art submissions in the Fall and Winter with April 30 deadline
6. Ask talent show coordinator to promote lip sync and videos elements
7. Review our PowerPoint & brochure
8. 5/8 High Schools participated and 1 Middle School
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Country, Rock, Urban and Spanish Radio ads Country, Rock, Urban and Spanish Radio ads
No students chose to lip sync 12 recycling radio ads
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Radio & TV PartnersRadio & TV Partners
Local radio & TV stations charge around $2,000 for a remote broadcast. Student talent shows may be better for video and lip sync airing.
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Generating CertificatesGenerating Certificates
It took over 1 minute per art work to create a certificate; poor penmanship, difficult names, various teachers
Only scan the most interesting photos for marketing efforts
Input last and first names in different fields to assist in sorting
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Generating CertificatesGenerating Certificates
It takes a long time to process county and school officials to sign certificates
Consider having teachers write student names
Ask schools to deliver certificates with returned art work
Display art winners and runners up during Earth Day activities
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Traveling Recycling TrophiesTraveling Recycling Trophies
1. Deliver Trophies right after Spring Break to allow Principals to schedule presentation to the students at student assembly or daily TV announcement
2. The 5 year plaques for videos are well designed for classroom, trophy cabinet or front hall way display.
3. Insure student’s full names in block letters are included in submissions.
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Middle School WinnersMiddle School Winners
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Traveling Recycling TrophiesTraveling Recycling Trophies
4. Schedule a delivery to the principal
5. Insure students get written parent permission for their names and photos to be used as part of the recycling competition submission
6. End of the school year has a vendor construction rush
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Traveling Plaques for video winnersTraveling Plaques for video winners
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Key FindingsKey Findings
1. Start the recycling challenge in September, not January, FCAT crowds out programs
2. Students have many community competition projects and after school activities
3. Consider financial incentives for schools that recycle so they capture collection savings
4. Recruit Media specialists and talent show coordinators at the middle and elementary schools
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Key FindingsKey Findings
5. Follow the Florida Film festival guidelines
6. Partner with Keep America Beautiful
7. Communicate often to Principals, Plant Operators and teachers
8. Present program at training and district department meetings
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Key FindingsKey Findings
9. Traveling trophies instill interest and competition
10. Start with schools that have recycling advocates.
11. New labels or bottle/can shaped recycling bins produce new attitudes
12. Students & teachers who help with recycling have fewer litter problems
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Key FindingsKey Findings
13. It’s very difficult to get so many teachers and school employees to keep time sheets.
14. Plant Operators work for the Principal, not central administration
15. The amount of recycling generated depends on socio-economics, well water or city water.
16. Try to track how much paper and containers are purchased not just recycled.
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Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?
David Jaye, Project ManagerCollier County Solid Waste Management Department
Jodi Walters, Recycling CoordinatorCollier County Solid Waste Management Department