Recycling & Going Green

In Our Schools

Our planet is in trouble.  As teachers and parents we need to take action and involve our kids.  It is not enough to just talk about it.

We can do things to slow climate change by reducing our carbon footprint.  We need to become more energy efficient.  We need renewable energy.  We need to reduce our waste.

We can do this with our children, at school and at home.

                    The Texas PTA has partnered with the Go Green Initiative (GGI) to take a comprehensive approach to environmental issues on campus and protect children’s health through environmental stewardship.  The Go Green Initiative comprises five principles.

1.       Generate compost.  This is nature’s recycling.  Through basic worm composting, children learn about ecology, biology, & waste reduction.

2.     Recycle what cannot be reused.  Purchase recycled items.  Choose items to purchase because they are recyclable.  Recycling paper, plastic, aluminum, ink cartridges, & cell phones reduces toxic greenhouse gases, conserves energy, & does not contribute to the landfill.

3.     Educate students, teachers, and parents on environmentally responsible behavior.  The goal is that each of us use these behaviors at school and then take these behaviors home.  It becomes the way we live.

4.     Evaluate the environmental impact of every activity.  Identify products and practices that threaten the health of children.  Consider improving the campus environment with practices to reduce excessive energy consumption.  (Turn off lights when you leave the room.  Turn off computers at the end of the day.)  Consider improving the air quality through increased car-pools and initiate “no idling” in front of school.

5.     Nationalize the principles of responsible paper consumption.  Consider purchasing post consumer recycled paper and office products.

Schools may implement as few as three principles in creating their own unique programs designed to address local concerns.  Learn more at www.GoGreenInitiative.org. 

The Go Green Initiative is designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility.  It unites parents, teachers, students, and administrators in an effort to make real and lasting changes. 

Who should initiate this program at each campus?  Whoever has the passion.  It can be parents, teachers, and/or administrators.  I will help you every step of the way if you contact me.

Recycling and Fundraising

We should recycle because it is the right thing to do.  Paper comprises 40% of our landfills.  Schools are a large contributor. 

Still, if we can make money recycling, why not?  There is value in waste.  Companies are willing to pay for it.  See the following websites for fundraising possibilities.

www.PaperRetriever.com  Recycling includes paper, magazines, newspapers, phone books, cardboard, and JUNK MAIL!  Outside bins allow collection from the school and community.  The City collects only newspapers and magazines.  What about the rest?  Let’s work together, students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community.  Raise money.  Include the students on how to spend the money.  Never forget to reward the students for their efforts.  Collect weekly from classrooms.  Let the kids “weigh in”  their classroom contribution.  Keep track.  Keep everyone excited.  Small rewards are fun, too.

www.ecophones.com or www.cartridgesforkids.com  Recycle cell phones, inkjet cartridges, DVDs, laptops, MP3 players, video games & consoles, digital cameras, & portable DVD players.  Organize a year long fundraiser.  Collect, mail, and get paid.  Plus you are making a difference in the landfill.  You are involving the students in becoming environmental stewards.

AREA 14 FALL CONFERENCE – ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP

There will be an Environmental Workshop taught 2^nd session only by Elvia Waggoner and I will be assisting.  Please be sure your school has a representative for this workshop.  I want meet you.  I am bubbling with ideas and want to share them.

Roxanne Seibert, Environmental Chairman