Agency (5305W) ity kit from EPA tasks kindergarten and elementary school children with investigating...

Across America, students of all ages arelearning the importance of reducing,reusing, and recycling solid waste. Withthis in mind, this issue of Reusable Newshighlights solid waste education, witharticles featuring EPA programs as well asother successful initiatives at the national,state, and local level.

Many states throughout the nation are doing their part to educatekids about the importance of responsible solid waste manage-ment. Leading the charge are Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and

California—three states with active and innovative education programs.Not surprisingly, all three states share similar tools and approaches

to solid waste education. Each state developed a curriculum and/oractivity guides to provide teachers with the materials they need. Thesematerials include suggested activities, stories, poems, puzzles, worksheets,and plays that teach recycling, composting, and source reduction con-cepts. In developing the curricula and activity guides, program organiz-ers from all three states networked with educational associations, lookedto other states for ideas, and incorporated sug-gestions from teachers. The states also reliedon teachers to help pilot testcurricula and participatein training.

The goal,naturally, is awell-educatedand motivatedstudent popula-tion. “A strong pro-gram finds creativeways to pique chil-dren’s interest andencourage them toapply what they learnin school to their dailylives, developingresponsible solidwaste manage-ment habits,”said NicoleCirillo, RecyclingEducation Coordi-nator of Massachu-setts’ Department ofEnvironmentalProtection.

2Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber.

(Continued on page 5)

Join the Club WithEPA’s New EducationTools!

By joining EPA’s Planet Pro-tectors Club, kids can assumethe role of an ace detective

or an “Environaut” from outer spaceto learn about solid waste and recy-cling. This new educational activ-ity kit from EPA tasks kindergartenand elementary school childrenwith investigating environmentalmissions, solving mysterious sto-ries on the Web, pledging toreduce waste, and exploring theland of reuse and recycling.

Released this winter, the PlanetProtectors Club kit is a solid wastecurriculum supplement that canbe used in the classroom, as anafterschool activity, or at home.With these tools, kids learn howto prevent and reduce waste, buyrecycled products, and recycleand compost. The brightly col-ored, illustrated materials buildon other educational items createdby EPA in the early 1990s.

United States Solid Waste and EPA530-N-99-001Environmental Protection Emergency Response Winter 1999Agency (5305W) www.epa.gov

1EPA REUSABLENEWS

(Continued on page 6)

States Lead by Example

Curriculum

Activities

Web Site

RECYCLING

COMPOSTING

SOURCE REDUCTION

SPECIAL FOCUS

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A s a result of recyclinginvestment forums, compa-nies have secured more

than $50 million in financing.Since 1995, a total of eight invest-ment forums have been heldaround the country, with fouralone occurring in 1998. As asponsor of these events, EPAplayed an important role in mak-ing each one a success.

Investment forums are designedto help new and expanding recy-cling businesses overcome perhapstheir biggest hurdle—securingadequate financing. To help meetthis challenge, investment forumsbring recycling entrepreneurstogether with investors, finan-ciers, and economic developmentofficials. During the 1-day events,recycling businesses make presen-tations to and network withpotential investors.

In addition to assisting with fin-ancing, investment forums offer arange of other advantages to recyc-ling businesses. Companies bene-fit by honing their business plans,increasing their credibility in theinvestment world, obtaining presscoverage, and learning valuableinformation from investors aboutwhat strikes their interest most.

The actual event is typicallyjust one step in a well-plannedprocess. For example, the North-east Recycling Council (NERC), anonprofit recycling organizationthat has organized three invest-ment forums to date, begins byputting together a group ofinvestors to select the companiesthat will participate. NERC thenrequires these companies toattend a 1-day training seminarwhere they present their businessplans and are critiqued byanother group of investors. Afterreceiving this first-hand feedback,companies then have a month topractice their 10-minute presenta-tions. By the time the eventoccurs, each company has pre-

pared a polished presentationforecasting business needs andgrowth potential.

“Preparing for the investmentforum demanded that I focus ondeveloping a strong businessplan and presentation,” saidChuck Cooper, president of Poly-mer Reclaim and Exchange, aprocessor and distributor ofpostindustrial plastics. “I had topresent my plan to a group ofinvestors in a practice sessionbefore the event. The concreteinput from venture capitalists,bankers, and private investorsmade my business plan moreconcise and compelling.”

Other companies have benefit-ted as well. As a direct or indirectresult of NERC’s investmentforums, six companies obtainedfunding totaling $12.5 million. Atthe first two Southeastern Recy-cling Investment forums, sixparticipant companies securedmore than $37 million in totalfinancing.

See the box below for a list ofinvestment forums scheduled in1999. For more details on theseevents, visit the Jobs Through Recy-cling Web site at <www.epa.gov/jtr/news.htm>.

Investing in the Future

S ince1990, four gro-

cery storechains havebeen raisingmoney and awareness for conservationefforts in several states, one purchase ata time. By donating 2 to 5 cents for everybag reused by customers, the grocerystore chains have raised a half a milliondollars for The Nature Conservancy. Themoney supports land acquisition andwildlife preservation efforts in NewEngland, Washington, Idaho, and Ohio.

How does the program work? Qual-ity Food Centers, Stop & Shop, BuehlerFoods, and Atkinsons provide customerswith reusable bags imprinted with TheNature Conservancy’s name and logo,along with details on how to partici-pate and prevent waste. Each time acustomer reuses the paper, plastic, orcanvas bags, the store contributesmoney to the Conservancy’s programsfor that area.

“This program offers a win-win-winsituation. It helps the environment byreducing the amount of waste in land-fills, supports conservation programs, andallows participating stores to cut costs,”said Karen Browning, director of cause-related marketing for the Conservancy.

To publicize the program, storeshave created in-store displays, run arti-cles in their newsletters, and madeannouncements over their in-houseradio systems. Stores benefit from theprogram by saving up to thousands ofdollars in reduced plastic and paper bagexpenditures, not to mention fosteringpositive community and media relations.

According to Browning, a large por-tion of the money generated throughthe Bag Reuse Program is used to pre-serve threatened land areas and pro-tect critical wildlife habitat. Inparticular, Washington’s Quality FoodCenters have donated more than $240,000since 1990, which helped complete thesuccessful Washington Wildlands andEndangered Washington campaigns.

For more information on the pro-gram, contact Alexis Beshara of theConservancy at 703 841-4524.

Conservation: It’s in the Bag

1999 ForumsSouthwest—Phoenix, ArizonaMarch 29

Northeast—Boston, MassachusettsMay 5

San Francisco, CaliforniaMay 17

Irvine, CaliforniaJuly 12

Southeast—Kiawah Island, South CarolinaAugust 22-24

Midwest—Cincinnati, OhioSeptember

2


Businesses and institutionsthroughout the country—from supermarkets and hos-

pitals to government offices andschools—are designing programsto help redirect food discardsfrom the national waste stream.Leftovers, spoiled fruits and veg-etables, and old bread are only afew of the items these programsput back to good use every day. Indoing so, they help communitiesreap a wide variety of benefits,from economic savings toresource conservation.

To promote food discard recov-ery programs, the Institute forLocal Self-Reliance (ILSR), underan EPA grant, developed the fact

sheetpacket,Don’tThrowAway

That Food:Strategiesfor Record-SettingWaste

Reduction.The packet, part

of ILSR’s Waste Reduction RecordSetters Project, is geared towardcommercial and institutionalfood discard generators and high-lights record-setting food recov-ery programs. It contains ninecase studies and a fact sheet thatdiscuss food recovery methodsand benefits, as well as costs,implementation, and mainte-nance. The case studies docu-ment record setters recovering 70to 100 percent of their food dis-cards. Overall, the packet pro-vides food-related establishmentsand recycling coordinators thefacts and “know-how” to estab-lish their own record-setting foodrecovery plan.

“Food recovery is essential toachieving high waste reductionlevels,” said Brenda Platt, directorof Materials Recovery Research at

ILSR. “By linking food-relatedindustries and haulers to foodbanks, compost operators, andfarmers, we can turn garbage into‘black gold.’”

In particular, the fact sheetshighlight the following foodrecovery methods and examples:• Food Donations: Nonperishable

and unspoiled perishable foodcan be donated to food banks, soupkitchens, shelters,and other charitableorganizations. Larry’s Markets in Seattle, Washing-ton, for example,donates cannedgoods and otheritems to a churchor food bankeach week.

• Animal Feed: Some types of food discards, such asinedible produce, can be usedas animal feed or can be con-verted into a high-quality,

pelletized pet food.The San Francisco

FoodBankregu-larly

givesinedibleproduceto a local

dairy.

• Rendering: Meat products canbe used in the rendering indus-try and converted into animalfood, cosmetics, soap, and otherproducts. The New York StateDepartment of Correction Facil-ities’ kitchen staff donate mate-rials biweekly.

• Composting: This method offersa range of options, from aeratedwindrows, where organics areformed into rows or long piles,to in-vessel composting, wherewaste is enclosed in a tempera-ture and moisture-controlledchamber. Vermicomposting—which uses worms to breakdown the materials—is anotheroption. Middlebury College inMiddlebury, Vermont, recovers75 percent of its food discardsfrom dining halls, snack bars,and special events throughonsite windrow composting.

The fact sheet packet (EPA530-F-98-023) is available from theRCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346.

Recycled

Content

Pet Food

Discover Black Gold With Food Recovery

Food recovery programs not onlybenefit the environment byreducing the waste stream, but

they also offer social and economicbenefits:

• Reducing trash collection and dis-posal fees.

• Providing food to the needy.

• Recovering the nutrient value ofthe food as compost or animal food.

• Helping communities meet localand state waste reduction goals.

• Sustaining localindustries andjobs.

• Creating animprovedpublic image forbusinesses.

Benefits of Food Recovery

3


FOCUS ON OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS FOCUS ON OUR NATIO

Recycling coordinators at col-leges and universities face amyriad of challenges—from

increasing recycling rates despitean ever-changing student body tofinding markets for used items suchas old computers. In 1992, theserecycling officials had few avail-able resources or networks throughwhich to share information. Toremedy this, a small groupof pioneers establishedthe College and Uni-versity Recy-cling Council(CURC) laterthat year.

Today, CURCoperates as atechnical coun-cil of theNational Recy-cling Coalition(NRC) andbrings togethermore than 150

college and university waste man-agement officials. CURC offers itsmembers educational and profes-sional development regardingsolid waste reduction and recycling.

“CURC enables key players ofuniversity recycling programs thatare in similar situations to net-work with each other, sharingobstacles and successes,” said

CURC Co-chair Pete Pasterz.“The organization links

representativesfrom all differ-ent types of col-leges anduniversities—large and small,urban and rural,public and pri-vate.”

To expeditenetworking,CURC offers thefollowingresources:

• Through an e-mail list server,RECYC-L, members can accessother college and universityrecycling coordinators aroundthe country to discuss theirrecycling programs and relatedtopics. The University of Iowa,for example, used the list serverto find a market for nine-tracktapes discarded from the cam-pus’s main frame computers.

• Through its Campus RecyclingSeries, CURC sponsors regionalcampus events to provide prac-tical, goal-oriented informationto attendees. Workshops arescheduled at Stanford University,Northeastern University, andMiami University of Ohio in 1999.

• The CURC Web site, <earthsys-tems.org/curc/curc.html>,offers the RECYC-L archives,campus program profiles, and avirtual shopping mall wherevisitors can search for recycled-content product information.

Recycling, One Campus at a Time

4

CURC Recycling Program Snapshots• George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, might not recycle everything, but it sure comes close

with one of the most comprehensive recycling programs in the country. In addition to the moretraditional items, the university recycles automotive parts, yard trimmings, refrigerator coolants,and paint solvents. For more information, visit <www.gmu.edu/gmu/recycling>.

• Deemed the Vermont “School Recycler of the Year” in 1996 by the Association of VermontRecyclers, Middlebury College diverted an impressive 64 percent of its waste streamthrough recycling and composting that year. An active student body coupled with a strongrecycling program, which includes a recycling center and environmental coordinator, doesn’tlet much go to waste. For more information, visit <www.middlebury.edu/~recycle>.

• Rather than throwing away old clothes, students at the University of Michigan send their used textilesand clothing to a company that distributes them for reuse in developing countries or manu-factures new items such as rags, padding, and stuffing. For more information, visit<www.plant.bf.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/materials/textiles.html>.

• At the forefront of solid waste technology, the University of Washington developed acomputer program, “Lab Safety System,” that facilitates comprehensive programs to share,recycle, and substitute hazardous materials and chemicals in classroom or research libraries.For more information, visit <www.washington.edu/computing>.

Recycle


R NATION'S SCHOOLS FOCUS ON OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS

5

Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a volun-tary program for educators. Imple-mented in 400 schools, theprogram—Recycling EducationAssistance for Public Schools(REAPS)—hires environmentaleducators to visit schools andlead students in hands-on activitiessuch as making recycled paperfrom paper scraps generated inthe classroom and compost fromitems collected on school grounds.

“Students are enthusiastic andexcited when learning aboutwaste reduction, reuse, and recy-cling,” said Michelle Walker, anenvironmental educator withApplied Pro-Active Technology.“Because students remember meon return visits, I believe they alsoremember the concepts I teach.”

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Act 335 requiresmunicipalities to establish effec-tive recycling programs thatinclude a public education com-ponent. School districts also needto meet the new recycling require-ments; therefore, the law directedthe Wisconsin Department of Nat-ural Resources (DNR) to developand distribute recycling andwaste reduction education materi-als for grades K-12. While there isno set curriculum or program formunicipalities and school dis-tricts to follow, they have accessto a wide variety of teachingresources developed by the DNR.

DNR focuses on developingeffective and interesting teachingresources and notifying schoolsabout the law. State outreachefforts include making presenta-tions at schools and conferences,

maintaining a kids’ Web site,conducting direct mailings, andhelping municipalities work withschools.

The state also measures theprogram’s success through surveys.“Our surveys show that throughstate and local efforts, studentsnot only learn about the impor-tance of responsible solid wastemanagement, but they bring thisknowledge home and teach theirfamilies,” said Joel Stone, Wis-consin DNR Recycling EducationCoordinator. “We are proud of themany state and national awardswe’ve received for our efforts.”

California

California legislation requires allcities and counties in the state todivert 50 percent of their waste by2000. To help meet this goal, thestate’s lead agency on solid wasteeducation, the California IntegratedWaste Management Board (CIWMB),established an instructional pro-gram with diversion assistance forK-12 schools. The program includesteacher training workshops, cur-riculum development, a newsletter,and technical assistance to schooldistricts developing waste preven-tion and recycling programs.

The program’s strength lies inits partnerships at both the stateand local level. At the state level,CIWMB leverages the resources ofother agencies through the Cali-fornia Environmental EducationInteragency Network (CEEIN), astate government consortium ofenvironmental educators repre-senting departments, boards, andcommissions. CIWMB and otherCEEIN members partner with theWalt Disney Company, for exam-ple, to produce a statewide annualenvironmental education contestin which “kids design their ownprojects, which gets them out into

the community solving real envi-ronmental problems,” said TriciaBroddrick of CIWMB.

Partnering on the local level,CIWMB works with science asso-ciations, private industry, andhaulers, piggybacking on existingactivities and tapping into thesegroups’ local expertise. CIWMBworks closely with these organi-zations to tailor its outreach tolocal needs and circumstances.Depending on demographic andgeographic factors, for example,CIWMB staff might emphasizedifferent solid waste issues—waste prevention and vermicom-posting in one area and traditionaland oil recycling in others.

As other states embrace solidwaste education they can look tothe successful models in Massa-chusetts, Wisconsin, and Califor-nia for guidance. “State programsshould ensure that our childrenunderstand and practice the basicprinciples of waste reduction,reuse, and recycling,” said Stone.“Their support and leadership arekey to our future.”

States Lead by Example (Continued from page 1)

State ContactsFor more information on these state programs, contact theindividuals listed below:

MassachusettsNicole CirilloPhone: 617 574-6865E-mail: [email protected]

WisconsinJoel StonePhone: 608 266-2711Web site: www.dnr.state.wi.us/eek

CaliforniaTricia BroddrickPhone: 916 255-2389E-mail: [email protected] site: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/

wpe/schools


6

It sounds hard to believe, butalmost 4.5 million pounds offood scraps are generated per

meal on college campuses aroundthe country. From the kitchen to theserving table, consumers, food ser-vice operators, and retailers couldall play a role in sending lessfood to the dumpster.

In an effort to reduce theamount of food and food-relatedwaste generated, INFORM, Inc.,recently completed Getting an ‘A’at Lunch: Smart Strategies toReduce Waste in Campus Dining.The report, just one of many tech-nical documents produced by the

environmentally mindedorganization, looks at the

food service sector of col-leges and universities andits specific contributionsto the campus wastestream. It also providestips and strategies forboth students and food

service directors onreducing food and other

waste generated in collegedining halls.

Below are a few key tips fromthe report:• Know what the students want.

By giving students a chance tocontribute to menu planning,the more unpopular food itemscan be eliminated in the firstplace. Offer suggestion boxes orconduct surveys to find out whattypes of food students prefer.

• Use smaller servings for self-serve items. Setting out toomuch food not only generatesunnecessary waste, but it iscostly as well. Place less foodat salad bars and buffets andreplenish more often. This willavoid having untouched foodgo to waste and will allow foodconsumption to be managedmore efficiently.

To ensure the kit would be edu-cational and “kid-friendly,” EPAconvened several focus groups in1997 and 1998 with teachers andstudents in grades 4 through 6.Their valuable input was used torefine and improve the materials.When kids enthusiasticallysaid they wished for copies of the board game as aholiday gift, EPA knewthe activities had hitthe mark!

The kit contains aPlanet Protectors Clubposter, certificate,badge, and pocketguides with instruc-tions for kids andadults. Tools include:

• Follow That Trail!, an activityguide focusing on the conceptsof conserving, recycling, andcomposting. The guide takes“young detectives” through animaginary house with match-ing, decoding, drawing, andcoloring exercises.

• The Case of the Broken Loop, an activity guide that looks at

product life cycles, “clos-ing the loop,” andother solid waste top-ics via crossword

puzzles, wordboxes, and othergames.

• Drop, Swap, &Roll: The Gameof Reuse andRecycling, aboard gamethat helps

players learn the basics of recy-cling, composting, and reuse.Students also answer triviaquestions relating to solidwaste issues in science, math,history, and social studies.

• The Environauts Mission toEarth and other Internet activi-ties, located at <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids.htm>, allowstudents to study waste reductionpractices on Earth through theeyes of an alien from anotherplanet in a series of challenging,interactive computer exercises.New missions and assignments

will be added periodically. Inaddition, EPA plans to update itssolid waste curriculum in 1999. Toorder the complete Planet ProtectorsClub kit, contact the RCRA Hotlineat 800 424-9346 and request docu-ment number EPA530-E-98-002.

Join the Club(Continued from page 1)

Food for Thought



Could it be that kids are pay-ing as much attention to“buying recycled” as the lat-

est fashion and music trends? Atleast among fifth- and eighth-graders at Smyser ElementarySchool in Chicago, Illinois, thatseems to be the case. Concernedabout the demand for recycled-content products, students at thisschool decided to take mattersinto their own hands.

“Our students realized that youare not really recycling unlessyou buy recycled-content prod-ucts,” said Sherry Weinberg,Smyser Elementary Schoolteacher. “With this in mind, theytook on a project to make recycledproducts more marketable.”

As a research component of theproject, students performed qual-

ity and cost comparison testson numerous recycled-and nonrecycled-

content products such asnapkins, paper towels, andtissues. Students found theproducts made with recy-

cled materials were equalin quality and similar inprice to the nonrecycledproducts. As a relatedproject, students worked

with grocery stores,surveying con-

sumers abouttheir habitsand attitudesregardingrecycled-contentproducts.

Students also participated in avariety of outreach efforts such aswriting and designing flyers forthe community that explainedwhy consumers should buy recy-cled. Students suggested waysgrocery stores could increase thevisibility of their recycled-contentproducts, from clearly labelingproducts to consolidating prod-ucts under a “recycled products”sign. They even communicatedideas to recycled product manu-facturers, such as offering specialcoupons for some products.

To conclude the project, stu-dents made presentations toteachers, classmates, and the com-munity at a local environmentalfestival. At the event, studentsshowed off a variety of items theymade from scratch, includingvases made from cereal boxes,picture frames made from scrapcloth, and robots made with sodacans.

Through participation in theproject, students learned theimportance of closing the recy-cling loop and how to initiatechange through government, pri-vate companies, and the commu-nity. “The project was a tremendoussuccess and really affected thecommunity, making it more awareof how and why people shouldpurchase recycled-content prod-ucts,” said Weinberg.

For more information on theproject, contact Sherry Weinbergof Smyser Elementary School at773 534-3710.

Kids Champion Recycled-Content Products• Offer reusable cups and mugs.

Several colleges around thenation have implementedreusable cup or mug programsthat dramatically reduce theuse of single-use cups. Offeran incentive for students toparticipate, such as discountson beverages.INFORM also produced the

report Making Less Garbage onCampus in 1995, which containscase studies of different cam-puses’ approaches to waste pre-vention. To obtain copies of thereports, visit its Web site at<www.informinc.org> or callWhitman Book Distribution at800 353-3730. For more informa-tion, contact Nevin Cohen ofINFORM at 212 361-2400.

500 Napkins

BUY RECYCLED


7


Recognizing the tremendousopportunities for waste pre-vention and recycling, EPA’s

WasteWise program expanded itsfocus to target schools and univer-sities. Already, 79 educationalinstitutions are saving thousandsof dollars while also serving asenvironmental role models by par-ticipating in the WasteWise Program.

Below are just a few examples:• Sligo Adventist School, in

Takoma Park, Maryland,switched to bulk juice dis-pensers and reusable plasticcups, started a vermicompost-ing program for its food scraps,and reduced paper use in theschool’s office. As a result, theschool recycled 96,000 poundsof paper and 2,500 pounds offood scraps. The school alsorecycled more than 2,000 poundsof each of the following materi-als: plastic, metal, and glass.

• Seattle University operates a sur-plus store to sell office furniture,computerequipment,and otherused itemsrather than

disposing of them.In addition, theschool’s recyclingprogram collected more than876,000 pounds of material in1997, saving nearly $50,000 indisposal fees.

• Desert Sands Unified SchoolDistrict, in La Quinta, Califor-nia, saved $123,000 in 1 year bydonating 3 tons of old textbooksto developing countries andselling used cooking oil forreprocessing into animal feed.These stories are impressive

given the host of challenges thatmust be overcome by educationalinstitutions in developing a suc-cessful waste reduction program.In many ways, a university orschool district operates like alarge business, coordinating a mixof facilities, cafeterias, outsidecontractors, and of course, students.Gaining support for a new pro-gram, reaching a consensus aboutthe kind of program to implement,

and informing theinstitutional commu-nity about how to

participate are just a few obstaclesschools and universities typicallyface.

Over time, EPA hopes to helpeducational institutions achievethe same level of success as pri-vate sector WasteWise partners.With support from WasteWise,partners can save money and pre-vent material from being disposedof—not only leaving more moneyavailable for education, but alsoencouraging environmentally con-scientious decision-making forfuture generations.

For more information, contactthe WasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473) or visit the program’s Web site at<www.epa.gov/wastewise>.

How CanWasteWise HelpMy School?WasteWise is an EPA voluntary part-nership program through whichbusinesses, governments, and insti-tutions reduce waste, benefittingtheir bottom lines and the environ-ment. Partners set their own goalsand report their accomplishmentsin three areas: waste prevention,recycling, and buying/manufactur-ing products with recycled content.

Through WasteWise, educationalfacilities become part of a networkof WasteWise partners who shareextensive knowledge of school- andcampus-specific waste preventionstrategies. A WasteWise accountrepresentative helps generate ideasand provides technical assistance.WasteWise also offers many helpfulpublications and resources, a Website, a list server that allows mem-bers to ask each other questions,and a toll-free Helpline. Partnersalso receive national recognition fortheir waste reduction successesthrough an awards program andnumerous outreach efforts.

Universities and Schools Get Wise About Waste


Desert Sands Unified School District bales its boxes on site for recycling

8


9

A FederalGovernmentGiveaway

F ederal agencies are reaching outto schools and practicing reusethrough the “Computers for

Learning” program. All executive fed-eral agencies participate in the pro-gram, which is coordinated by theU.S. General Services Administration(GSA). Agencies donate hundredsof thousands of pieces of surpluscomputer equipment, such as cen-tral processing units, printers, mod-ems, routers, and servers, to schoolsand nonprofit educational organiza-tions. Special consideration is givento those with the greatest need.

The program saves the federalgovernment significant resourcesby reducing paperwork and mini-mizing the time surplus computersstay in government inventories.

Established in April 1996 byPresident Clinton, Computers forLearning assists in making mod-ern computer technology an inte-gral part of every classroom. Theprogram is part of the President’sbroader efforts to help childrenadvance their technological skillsin preparation for the challengesof the next century.

So far, the program is drawingrave reviews from schools andteachers. “This will not only be aninvaluable resource to our stu-dents but also to the communitiesimpacted by the contributions ofour graduates,” said John Traynor,President of Gonzaga PrepatorySchool in Spokane, Washington,after his school received a ship-ment of computers.

Schools and educational non-profits can easily register to requestcomputer equipment through theComputers for Learning Web site.

The Web site also includes infor-mation on how to find assistance ifcomputers require upgrading andhow to contact volunteers withtechnical computer knowledge.Members of the Computers forLearning Partnership will ship com-puters to schools free of charge. Formore information about Computersfor Learning, call the toll-free hotlineat 888 362-7870 or visit the pro-gram’s Web site at <www.computers.fed.gov/doe/school/general.htm>.

Reading, writing, and arithmeticaren’t the only lessons childrenare learning in school these

days. Thanks to Keep America Beauti-ful, Inc. (KAB), students can add theimportance of solid waste manage-ment to the list, as more and moreschools adopt KAB’s innovative edu-cational curriculum.

The curriculum is actuallydivided into twoparts: Waste inPlace and Waste:A Hidden Resource.Waste in Place isgeared towardschildren in gradesK–6 and fosters abasic understandingof litter preventionand responsible solidwaste managementpractices such as

source reduction, recycling, composting,waste-to-energy, and sanitary landfilling.

Waste: A Hidden Resource targetsgrades 7–12 and reinforces the wastemanagement topics learned in Wastein Place by encouraging students todevelop critical thinking and problem-

solving skills. Throughactivities such asrole-playing, stu-dents pretend to beelected officials, envi-ronmentalists, andbusiness leaders andaddress solid wasteissues together, such assiting a landfill.

Both portions are inter-disciplinary and can beintegrated with existing

classes such as math, social studies,or science. Each is the result of exten-sive research on changing attitudes

and practices related to proper wastemanagement. In addition, each waswritten and field-tested by a group of350 teachers drawn from 21 states.

Waste in Place and Waste: A Hid-den Resource are available for teachersand school systems from KAB and itsaffiliates nationwide. The curriculum ispromoted through 1-day workshopstaught by professional trainers with aneducational background and classroomexperience. In 1997, more than 10,000teachers attended training sessionsconducted by KAB and its affiliates.

KAB is a national, nonprofit publiceducation organization concerned withimproving waste handling practices inAmerican communities. For more infor-mation regarding the curriculum or theorganization, contact KAB’s Sue Smithat 815 725-5897 or Mara Neville at203 323-8987. You can also visit<www.kab.org/old/teachers.html>.

Getting a Head Start on Solid Waste Education



10

Recyclone Manswept throughAberdeen, Mary-

land, recently, handingout recycled-contentproducts and encourag-ing residents to recycle.The recycling superherowas the key figure in a2-month challenge toboost the city’s recy-cling rate, reward citi-zens for their efforts,and educate them aboutthe importance of clos-ing the loop.

Dressed in an eye-catching red and whiteoutfit, Recyclone Manmarched through neigh-borhoods ahead of arecycling truck and leftbehind prizes at house-holds with recyclablesbagged for collection. Recycled-content prizes included 16-rollpacks of 60 percent postconsumercontent bathroom tissue and 900-count packages of paper napkins.In addition, Recyclone Man leftbehind a tip sheet, remindingrecyclers that, among otherthings, bottle caps and jar lids arenot recyclable and that only #1and #2 plastic bottles are recy-clable in Aberdeen.

Where no recyclables were setout, households received basicrecycling instructions and werenotified that prizes were awardedto others in their neighborhood.The information advised resi-dents to tune in to a participatingradio station for details on thechallenge.

The challenge originated after11 Aberdeen citizens weighedtheir recyclables for a year andfound they could recycle up to50 percent of their householdwaste (not including yard trim-mings).To cover the challenge’s

costs, Aberdeen used surplusfunding from its pay-as-you-throwprogram, which requires prepaid40- or 80-cent stickers on eachtrash bag set out for collection. Ifa household’s bagged trash weighsless than the maximum amountallowed per sticker, surplus fund-ing accumulates. “It seemed onlyfair to give it back to citizens,”said Jim Litke, recycling coordina-tor for the city of Aberdeen.

Both the community and cityofficials enthusiastically sup-ported the Recyclone Challenge.“I would certainly recommend itto other communities,” said Litke.Based on its success, Aberdeenresidents can look forward toanother recycling challenge inApril 1999, since surprisingthings happen when RecycloneMan pays a visit. “It won’t beexactly the same,” says Litke. “Iam thinking of a new twist.”

For more information on thechallenge, contact Jim Litke ofAberdeen at 410 273-2087.

What’s New Aroundthe World

Morethan3,800

internationalsolid waste pro-fessionals fromthe public andprivate sectorsattendedWASTECON®1998. The con-ference was ajoint effortbetween theSolid Waste Association of NorthAmerica (SWANA) and the Inter-national Solid Waste Association(ISWA).

A major strength of the confer-ence was its solid waste tradeshow. More than 245 exhibitorsdisplayed and demonstrated alarge variety of composting,grinding, and recycling equip-ment, in addition to collection,transfer, and landfill equipment.In addition, technical sessionscovered topics ranging fromglobal solid waste managementissues and trends to solutions fordeveloping countries to collectionefficiency innovations. Someattendees even toured a compostand mulch processing center anda construction and demolitiondebris facility.

It’s not too early to startplanning for this year’s event;WASTECON® 1999 will be heldin Reno, Nevada, from October18 to 21, 1999. For moreinformation, or to order theWASTECON® 1998 proceedings($65 for members, $75 for non-members), contact SWANA at 301585-2898 or visit its Web site at<www.swana.org/>.

Whirlwind of ActivityIncreases Recycling

Where no recyclables were set out, house-holds received basic recycling instructions and

were notified that prizes were awarded toothers in their neighborhood.


RESOURCES

Setting Great RatesEPA’s new Rate Structure Design: SettingRates for a Pay-As-You-Throw Program(EPA530-R-99-006) can help take themystery out of setting effective ratestructures for trash collection services.In communities with pay-as-you-throw(PAYT) programs, residents are chargedbased on the amount of trash theythrow away rather than a set fee. Thebooklet details two strategies for set-ting PAYT rates: (1) using existing datafrom communities similar to your ownand (2) following six basic steps togenerate your own data. A hypotheticalsample town helps planners go througheach step, from forecasting the amountof municipal solid waste generated toprojecting PAYT revenues and programcosts for your own community. Casestudies of successful programs acrossthe country are also provided. To obtainyour copy, call the PAYT Helpline at 888EPA-PAYT (372-7298).

Extended ProductResponsibilityExtended product responsibility (EPR)is an emerging environmental principledesigned to help businesses sparkproduct innovation, cut costs, andenhance customer loyalty, whileexpanding market share at home andabroad. Under EPR, all actors along theproduct chain are challenged to shareresponsibility for reducing the lifecycleenvironmental impacts of product sys-tems, including upstream, production,and downstream impacts. To helpexplain this new approach, EPA pub-

lished Extended Product Responsibility:A Strategic Framework for SustainableProducts (EPA530-K-98-004). This eight-page booklet describes the bene-fits of EPR, explains how it works, andlists references with additional informa-tion and model programs. EPA is play-ing an active role in advancing theunderstanding and implementation ofEPR principles in the United States byworking with businesses, researchinstitutions, consumers, federal agen-cies, and state and local governments.To order a copy, call the RCRA Hotlineat 800 424-9346.

Preventing IllegalDumpingIn vacant lots and abandoned buildingsor along alleys and roadways, illegaldumping is a major problem in manycommunities throughout the UnitedStates. To help cities and counties dealwith this issue, EPA’s Region 5 recentlyprepared a comprehensive documententitled Illegal Dumping PreventionGuidebook (EPA905-B-97-001). It con-tains general information about illegaldumping and guidance for developinga prevention program. It also includes a“tool kit” of strategies that have proveneffective in combating illegal dumping,reinforced by case studies detailinghow these strategies can be imple-mented. To order a copy of the guide-book, please write to: U.S. EPA Region5; Waste, Pesticides, and Toxics Division;77 West Jackson Boulevard (PA-19J);Chicago, IL 60604. The guidebook also isavailable on the Pay-As-You-Throw Web siteat <www.epa.gov/payt/research.htm>.

PUBLICATIONS

11

Climate Change andWaste Reduction<www.epa.gov/mswclimate>

Did you know that throwing away lesswaste can have an impact on global cli-mate change? To find out more, visit EPA’snew Web site on climate change andwaste reduction. Through a series of infor-mative links and pages, the site detailsEPA’s efforts to address global climatechange through waste reduction, as wellas information on related programs, grantprojects, and frequently asked questions.In addition, the site offers several tools,including a new software program andcorresponding user’s guide, intended tohelp organizations estimate the green-house gas emissions resulting from theirsolid waste management activities.

Environmental Careerson the Web<www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/careers/index.htm>

EPA’s Office of Solid Waste (OSW) recentlylaunched an environmental careers page.The page links to environmental job andinternship opportunities and educationalinstitutions with concentrations in envi-ronmental studies. It also provides aglimpse into the daily activities of OSWemployees. In addition, the page links toEPA’s Students and Teachers Page, a sitewith teacher resources and tools, recyclingand waste reduction information for stu-dents, and a kids’ page. Visitors also canlink to EPA’s Web site for environmentaleducation and learn about Agencywideinitiatives.

WEB SITES


Anew Executive order (E.O.)renews the federal govern-ment’s commitment to waste

prevention, recycling, and the pur-chase of recycled-content andother environmentally preferableproducts. Signed last September byPresident Clinton, E.O. 13101,“Greening the Government throughWaste Prevention, Recycling, andFederal Acquisition,” strengthensE.O. 12873, passed in 1993.

One of the key tenets of E.O.13101 is increasing the purchase ofrecycled-content paper. Since1993, the federal government hasquadrupled its purchases of recy-cled-content printing and writingpaper. E.O. 13101 builds on thissuccess and directs federal agenciesto ensure that, as of January 1, 1999,they purchase only printing andwriting paper containing 30 per-cent postconsumer fiber. If agen-cies are unable to do so, they mustpurchase paper containing at least20 percent postconsumer fiber.

In addition, the new E.O. callsfor EPA’s Comprehensive Procure-ment Guidelines (CPG) program tocontinue designating recycled-content products for governmentalpurchase and recommend

recycled-content levels for theseitems. The CPG program alreadyhas designated 36 items and hasproposed 19 additional items inCPG III. E.O. 13101 requires EPA toupdate the CPG every 2 years or asappropriate, rather than annually.

Federal agencies also areencouraged to purchase environ-mentally preferable products andservices, including biobased prod-ucts, to harness the tremendouspurchasing power of the federalgovernment and spur markets forthese items. Biobased products arecommercial or industrial products(other than food or agriculturalfeed) that utilize biological productsor renewable domestic agriculturalor forestry materials. Examplesinclude vegetable oil–based trans-mission fluids and architecturalproducts, such as cabinets, madefrom organic materials.

E.O. 13101 also directs EPA tofinalize its guidance on the

acquisition of environmentallypreferable products and services.Agencies are required to work withEPA on pilot projects to test andevaluate EPA’s guidance. The guidingprinciple of environmentally prefer-able procurement is that multipleenvironmental attributes and life-cycle analysis are taken into con-sideration before product purchase.

Agencies also are directed byE.O. 13101 to establish wastereduction, recycling, and recycledproducts purchasing targets.

The Council on EnvironmentalQuality chartered the White HouseTask Force on Waste Preventionand Recycling to work with theFederal Environmental Executiveas chair of the task force to imple-ment the E.O. EPA representativeswill serve on this task force. Formore information on E.O. 13101,contact the Office of the FederalEnvironmental Executive at 202 260-1297.

1EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency(5305W)Washington, DC 20460

Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use$300

New Executive Order Builds Markets forRecycled Products

This issue of Reusable News is also available on the Internet. Access this and other EPA publicationsthrough the World Wide Web, at <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/recycle/reuse.htm>.


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