school-wide (k-12) recycling award
pasco county, florida

The District School Board of Pasco County has created a Resource Recovery Department that works with students, teachers, and administrators at the county’s 76 schools to promote and measure recycling success.


Each school has a designated recycling liaison who works with the Resource Recovery Department to share program information and encourage recycling within the school.  Each school has facilities to collect a wide array of recyclable materials, including cardboard, mixed paper, and newspaper.  From individual classrooms to administrative offices, efforts are made to measure recycling success at each school and create benchmarks for future success.


To further encourage recycling the county has developed a wide range of creative programs.  In many of the schools, students have the opportunity to join the Earth Patrol program to help monitor recycling and conservation efforts.  Recognized as an outstanding program by the American School Board Journal, Earth Patrol students help collect the recycling and check that all recyclable materials are making it into the classroom bins.  Each class receives a door hanger with congratulations for outstanding efforts or recommendations for areas that need improvement.


To further promote recycling, the District School Board partners with organizations including Keep Pasco Beautiful, Pasco County Parks, Covanta Energy, Pepsi Company, Pasco County Recycling, the R.E.S.O.U.R.C.E. Recycling Club, school PTA organizations, and others.  An annual student art competition that features recycled materials is just one example of the interesting and educational programs resulting from these partnerships.


Another innovative program, the Creation Station, encourages re-use and recycling of extra supplies from local businesses.  Businesses from across the county contribute recyclable materials including paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, metal, and fabric.  Materials are gathered and redistributed at no cost to schools and nonprofit organizations.  Businesses avoid paying disposal fees and wasting reusable resources, and schools and nonprofit groups receive free arts and crafts supplies.

 

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