Students all over the U.S. are in their first semester of another year of education and development. But as they headed back to school this year, they didn't leave their desire for sustainability at the door. According to the Green Schools Initiative, schools languish behind other sectors regarding recycling and sustainability. School waste – mostly food and paper – designates about four percent of our municipal waste stream. Even more concerning, Many schools don't recycle, and fewer still buy reclaimed or green products.
The great news is that it doesn't take much to begin making a huge impact. In fact, with some minor changes, you and other students can transform your school into a veritable hub for sustainability. Our recycling service in New Jersey encourages you to consider executing one of these changes – or all of them!
Many schools still do not recycle – which is surprising when you consider that nearly 40 percent of a school's waste is composed only of paper. If your school does not already have a recycling strategy in place, encourage your leaders to embrace one. This guide will step you through the stages, from building a team and examining your trash to developing a collection system, advertising your initiative, and assessing it to make necessary changes.
Isn't auditing for capital, you might ask? Auditing is a method of rooting out waste where it lives – and there is a lot of it in the lunches you're offered. Schools in the U.S. throw out nearly $1.2 billion in fare each year! To that end, the EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Arkansas developed a guide to executing a food waste audit at your school. Not only will you acquire new knowledge – think science project! – but you can also divert wasted food into compost that you can utilize for many things
It's difficult to understand where to start to explain the benefits gardening has – luckily, the Tampa Bay School Garden Network outlined them best. Gardens are scholarly in disciplines from science and math to language arts (consider garden journaling) while also elevating nutrition, environmental stewardship, and links to nature – lowering the incidence of despair and ADHD. And it is better still if you utilize the fruits of school gardens to prep your meals or snacks!
Although many schools supply public transportation, it's not consistently universally functional or flexible enough if you go in early or stay after for athletics and additional activities. In addition to being more flexible, transportation pools are environmentally-friendly time-savers that promote community, new camaraderie, and physical fitness.
Of course, these concepts are not limited to schools alone: while helping turn your school green, your older siblings can take these concepts to college while your parents cultivate them in the workplace. Nature is universal – inside and out – and it's up to us to sustain our connection to it wherever we spend time.
Use these tips to focus on sustainability and make your school green. Then, Contact us today if you need a recycling service in New Jersey.
