The Recycling System
For specifics and step-by-step instructions on how to implement this at your school, visit the West page and view the resources listed for Those Looking to Implement.
Main Points:
Determining if cartons are recyclable
Creating the System
Maintenance
Wish to implement this system at your school?
After running into regulation concerns, Makayla was unsure what the end result of the project would look like. Whether it was no compost, a different type of compost, or shifting the entire project to focus on a different aspect of West Delaware’s sustainability than food waste. There were only two weeks left of the 2020-21 school year, and Makayla wanted to make some sort of implementation so that it would be easier to carry over into the next year. Makayla took action in finding a way to divert the large percentage of milk and juice cartons (data collected from the waste audit) found in West Delaware’s trash.
Are Cartons Recyclable?
Makayla first started by checking if they were recyclable or not. To determine this, it is best to call your local recycling center and to not rely on just the internet because recycling policies change based on the area that you live in. Upon calling Kluesner Reycling, the company that serves Manchester, Makayla learned that the cartons are in fact recyclable as long as they are rinsed of their contents and separated from the rest of the recycling.
Creating the System
So, now Makayla knew what the process needed to accomplish, but how to get each individual carton rinsed took longer to figure out than a short phone call.
The System
The first plan that was developed, and the one that is still being used, utilizes two water dispensers and recycling bin. West Delaware students follow a six step procedure to ensure the cartons are able to be recycled. West Delaware recycling is picked up by Kluesner Sanitation, and they specify that cartons are to be rinsed thoroughly, not just emptied to be recycled. West Delaware follows the following process:
First: Students are instructed to hold their carton(s) in their hand as they dump their trash
Second: Students return tray in designated area
Thirdly: Students dump leftover milk and juice into a pail
Fourthly: Two water dispensers are available for students to wash out their cartons with— a small amount of water is put into their carton(s) by the students and then swished around
Fifthly: The carton is again dumped into another bucket in the same line
Sixthly: There is a recycling bin at the end of the line for the carton(s) to be placed in
Signage is used in the process at each step to ensure efficiency and avoid confusion. Staff who are assigned to lunch duty (2-3 teachers) help remind students and guide them through the system. Custodians were instructed by Kluesner Sanitation to have the cartons separately and place the cartons in the blue recycling totes.
Maintenance
West Delaware’s system relies on a student-volunteer system for maintenance. The project is promoted by teachers who have agreed, through NHS, and Student Council. A QR code that is displayed in areas throughout the school and on the doors of agreed teachers, is able to be scanned to lead students to the volunteer sheet. There they enter their name and select from the drop down menu of shifts. The duties of the shifts are explained in detail in the same sheet. Shifts include a set-up shift (set up line so that it is ready for lunch), A lunch (a student who has A-Lunch dumps the pails with the dumped liquids into the janitorial closet), B lunch (same as A, but with a B-lunch student), C lunch (C-lunch student dumps buckets and puts away line).