Recycling In The Irving Independent School District

1. Recycling In The Irving Independent School District As Easy As 1…2…3… This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

2. IT’S THE LAW • 361.425 of the Texas Health and Safety Code: Governmental Entity Recycling • Requires (at a minimum) the collection and recycling of corrugated cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, and high grade paper. • Requires ability to collect materials in facilities and a contract with a recycler for the processing of materials collected • Requires preference be given to buying recycled content products. • Go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/hs.toc.htm for more information. Click on Chapter 361, then on 361.425. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

3. Commonly Used Recycling Terms • Commingled Materials – Recyclables such as plastics with aluminum and steel cans all mixed together. Commingled materials require sorting after collection. • Single-stream – Recyclables (including plastics, cans and paper) all mixed together. In the IISD recycling program, plastics and cans will be placed in clear bags and then mixed with paper. Single-streamed materials require sorting after collection. • MRF (Material Recovery Facility) – A recycling operation that sorts materials by type, then cleans and compresses the recyclables before shipping them to processors. • HDPE – High density polyethylene – plastic #2, colored or opaque plastic used in milk jugs and laundry product bottles. • PETE or PET – Polyethylene terephthalate – plastic #1, clear plastic used in soda and water bottles. • Mixed paper – a mixture of various grades of recyclable waste paper not limited by fiber content. • Corrugated cardboard – Also known as OCC, this is primarily boxes used for shipping containers and is manufactured from a fluted paperboard. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

4. #1a – Know Your Equipment • Every school classroom will be equipped with a 20 gallon recycling collection container for paper only. • Every school office/office personnel will be issued a 28 qt. recycling collection container for paper only. • Every school will be equipped with 23 gallon recycling collection containers for paper as well as commingled materials. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

5. #1b: Know What Can Be Recycled • All IISD facilities will recycle mixed paper, corrugated cardboard (must be flattened), and shredded paper (bagged separately from regular paper). • Aluminum cans, small steel cans, and plastic drink containers #1 and #2 will also be acceptable in the IISD’s new recycling program, but must be bagged separately from the paper. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

6. What Paper Is Acceptable In The IISD’s Recycling Program? • Mixed office paper, Computer paper • Copy paper wrappers • Notebook paper, Homework type paper • Spiral paper • Post It notes, Scratch paper • Magazines/catalogs • Telephone books • Newspapers • Color paper, Construction paper • Art paper • Junk mail • File folders (including hanging and perforated with other metal attachments) • Envelopes (windowed or not) • Tests • Paperboard boxes This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

7. Facts About Recycling Paper • Paper is the most common item found in the trash. • About 40% of Irving’s landfill is paper. • Paper is one of the easiest items to recycle. • Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water and reduces overall emission of air pollution. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

8. What Paper Is Acceptable And Needs Special Treatment? • Corrugated cardboard is acceptable, but must be flattened. This will allow more materials to be placed in the recycling bin outside of the facility. It is more costly for the recycler to pick up a container with unflattened cardboard. • Shredded paper is acceptable, but must be placed in a clear bag before collection by the custodian. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

9. What Paper Is NOT Acceptable InThe IISD’s Recycling Program? • Tyvek envelopes • Paperback or hardbound books • Bathroom waste such as toilet paper and paper towels • Food wrappers such as candy wrappers • Food boxes such as pizza and microwave boxes • Gift wrapping paper This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

10. Recycling Commingled Items – Aluminum And Steel Cans; Plastics #1 & #2 • Every IISD facility will be equipped with special recycling containers for the collection of aluminum cans, small steel cans and plastic drink containers #1 and #2, which will be located in selective areas of each facility (i.e., halls, cafeteria, teacher workroom) and will be bagged separately from the paper. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

11. What Is NOT Acceptable In The IISD’s Recycling Program? • Plastic food containers #1-#7 • Plastic food utensils • Styrofoam packing materials • Notebook binders • Electronics such as computers • Printer cartridges • Glass bottles and jars • Ceramics • Plate glass • Aluminum pie plates and foil • Light bulbs/ballasts • Hazardous wastes • Medical wastes • Alkaline batteries • Large metal items • Items from the cafeteria such as food waste, corrugated cardboard and large steel cans This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

12. #2: Collecting The Recyclables • The custodial staff will be equipped with new split carts to collect both recyclables and garbage. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

13. The Split Cart Custodial Collection System • The split cart will allow the custodian ease in collecting the recyclables with one stop. • The cart is color coordinated to match blue for recycling and black/grey for trash. • Once the carts are full, the custodian will empty into the coordinating bin outside of the facility – recycling and trash dumpsters. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

14. #3: Collection By The Recycler And Trash Hauler • The outside dumpsters are scheduled for collection by the district with both the recycling and trash haulers. • The recycling hauler – Abitibi Consolidated will collect the recyclables and take them back to their facility for further processing. • Ultimately, the recyclables collected as part of the IISD’s Recycling Program will be remanufactured into a new product. • * Note – all recyclables collected are manufactured into new products! This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

15. Recycling Is As Easy As 1…2…3… • #1 – Your Participation! Know Your Recycling Equipment and What Can Be Recycled • #2 – Collection by the Custodians • #3 - Collection by the Haulers This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

16. Frequently Asked Questions • Q: When will this new recycling program begin? • A: In the month of February, 2005. • Q: What can I, as Principal, do to help? • A: Each facility has a dedicated facilitator, usually a teacher. Please be supportive and encouraging of their role in this process of helping to promote recycling and maintaining a successful program on campus. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

17. Frequently Asked Questions • Q: Will there be support after the recycling program is up and running? • A: Yes, Abitibi and Keep Irving Beautiful will be available and will be hosting monthly meetings to network ideas with campus facilitators. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

18. Frequently Asked Questions • Q: Will there be other ways I will be able to get the word out in my school? • A: Be creative – put information on school’s web; hand out informative flyers; air information on the school’s TV; make PA announcements; coordinate presentations with the City of Irving and Abitibi before the program begins. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

19. Frequently Asked Questions • Q: If I am unsure about what’s to be recycled, how do I determine which container to use? • A:  It will take a little time to see how simple the program is designed.  When in doubt, trash it, move on and as you become more knowledgeable change will occur.  This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

20. Frequently Asked Questions • Q: Will I have training tools to help educate others? • A: Yes, all will be given copies of a training DVD for staff/faculty/students and custodians, as well as brochures and posters. Refer to the IISD’s Recycling Web Page for exciting information/tips/suggestions/activities and more. This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

21. Important Tips For A Successful Program • Flatten all corrugated cardboard boxes • Bag all shredded paper in clear bags • Commingled items must be bagged separately (in clear bags) • Recycle only those items which are acceptable in this program This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

22. When Does The IISD’s New Recycling Program Begin? KICK OFF IS FEBRUARY, 2005 This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

23. For More Information If you have additional questions, feel free to contact ~ Pat Lamb, IISD Assistant Director for Security and Operations at (972) 261-5111 or Cheri Reynolds, Abitibi Consolidated at (817) 792-4055 X 8162 This has been prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

24. This project has been made possible in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.