Collier County Solid Waste Management Department

1

School Beverage Container Recycling Challenge

Program Lessons Learned implementing the

Florida Innovative Grant funded program


Program Lessons Learned implementing the

Florida Innovative Grant funded program

Collier County Solid Waste Management Department

Public Utilities Division 2

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.


American Beverage Association’s recycling advertising program

American Beverage Association’s recycling advertising program


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.


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.


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.


‘Reincarnation’‘Reincarnation’


Grant ResourcesGrant Resources

Bottle shaped recycle bins Radio ads and TV commercials Recycling Program posters,

video, brochures and Power Point Traveling Trophies and

certificates




New recycling containers in schools

serve as visual reminders

to recycle.

This is a

Voluntary Program.


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


Recycling Art ChallengeRecycling Art Challenge


School vs. School Recycling competitionSchool vs. School Recycling competition


Recycling TV CommercialsRecycling TV Commercials


Recycling Creative VideoRecycling Creative Video


Recycling Lip SyncRecycling Lip Sync


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


Dr. “Botella” & FDEP officerDr. “Botella” & FDEP officer


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


Disadvantages of Bottle shaped containersDisadvantages of Bottle shaped containers


Recyclingbin.comRecyclingbin.com

Corrugated Plastic cardboard

Style recycling bins

330 for $20,106


CanablesCanables

330 for $93,637


Recy-calRecy-cal

330 for $23,340


Motivated Custodian staffMotivated Custodian staff


New Labels, old bins?New Labels, old bins?

New Labels may work on old recycling bins


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


School Waste AuditsSchool Waste Audits


School Waste AuditsSchool Waste Audits


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


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




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


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


Waste/Recycling AuditsWaste/Recycling Audits


Waste/Recycling AuditsWaste/Recycling Audits



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



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


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


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


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


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



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.



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.


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/


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


Large room needed for judgingLarge room needed for judging


Winners & Runners up featured during Earth Day event

Winners & Runners up featured during Earth Day event


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


Just leave containers on tablesJust leave containers on tables




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


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


School TV ProgramsSchool TV Programs

The school morning TV shows can feature the recycling commercials and contest information and introduce the bottle shaped containers.


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


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


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


Student TV commercialsStudent TV commercials

First Place Collier Schools video winner “Haunted Recycling Bottles”

Click on black square to watch video


Student TV commercialsStudent TV commercials

Second Place Collier Video Winner“Recycling Warriors”

Click on black square to start video


Keep America BeautifulKeep America Beautiful

Iron Eyes Cody 1971 Earth Day

http://www.kab.org/media.asp?id=246&rid=250

Click on Black


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


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


Country, Rock, Urban and Spanish Radio ads Country, Rock, Urban and Spanish Radio ads

No students chose to lip sync 12 recycling radio ads


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.


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


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


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.


Middle School WinnersMiddle School Winners


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


Traveling Plaques for video winnersTraveling Plaques for video winners


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



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



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



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.

Public Utilities Division 71 Public Utilities Division 71

Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?

David Jaye, Project ManagerCollier County Solid Waste Management Department

[email protected]

Jodi Walters, Recycling CoordinatorCollier County Solid Waste Management Department

[email protected]

Documents

Collier County Solid Waste Management Department