Monday Q&A: Modesto City Schools launches districtwide recycling effort, hopes to reduce carbon footprint

Changing perceptions and habits about recycling can seem like a tough task, but Modesto City Schools officials say it can be done with a districtwide program to encourage students and staff to reduce, recycle and repurpose.

Gregori High School teachers Katie Merenda and Joe Orlando have been chosen to coordinate the effort, which will include all 34 schools. The program was designed to change the recycling habits of the district’s more than 29,000 students from preschool through 12th grade and its 3,000 staff members.

The district received a nearly $250,000 grant to fund the program, which includes the purchase of nearly 90 large recycling bins to be placed at the campuses and district facilities. The program also launched a website to share results and offer teaching tools for faculty.

Merenda and Orlando recently shared some of the details about the program and what students and staff hope to achieve.

Q: How is this recycling program different from any other that has come before at Modesto City Schools?

Merenda: It is different because this program is coordinated as a joint effort for all our schools, elementary, junior high and high school. Each school can lead its own student-led program through a recycling club, garden club, environmental club or any format that it chooses. But all schools are responsible to report each month the weight of plastic or aluminum that is deposited, so we can quantitatively and collectively calculate our carbon footprint savings as a district.

Q: What is the educational aspect for students who participate in the recycling program?

Orlando: These clubs put their education to real-world use. We teach our students about world problems and sustainability, and this is an opportunity for students to practice what they learn.

Q: How can this recycling program change the perception of students, school staffers and community members who visit the schools?

Orlando: The students have created the perception, and it’s a valid one, simply that we are stewards of our Earth. By creating programs that work, they make it habit to reduce and to recycle. Perhaps soon, it will be habit to reuse.

Q: The recycling program has a website. How will this online feature help students and faculty in making this program successful?

Merenda: The website has been set up to share a movie for “Kick-Off” across the district, which was on Earth Day. It can be found at www.mcs4kids.com/greenscene. A website is the best way to share information and let all staff know about the program. We will be updating pictures of the “Kick-Off” shortly as they are sent to us. There are lots of links on the website to curriculum, and it is a place to be able to coordinate information to share with each other. If we want to get information out to everyone, then a website is a great way to do this.

Q: Can you briefly tell us what are your goals and hopes for this program?

Merenda: We hope to use this opportunity to instill a culture at Modesto City Schools for sustainable living. The students who participate are leaders at their school to show others how to use their resources more carefully. This program helps the students understand the concept of stewardship and caring for their environment. We hope that eventually this will flow over into the community, and we can all enjoy a well-cared-for city. We are also hoping the students know that this is a direct way that they can individually help to reduce their own carbon footprint.

Q: When will all the recycling bins be placed at the schools, and what should be tossed in these bins?

Merenda: Every campus now has a student-led recycling program. Some schools had existing programs, but the grant provided sturdy bins for each campus. These were delivered in January, and we are hoping to supplement those as needed. Every school recycled plastic and aluminum, and the district makes it very easy to recycle paper as well. Beyond that, schools can recycle batteries, cellphones, ink cartridges and electronics. Just about anything can be either recycled or repurposed.

Q: What are you hoping to teach students and staff about converting waste materials into new useful materials? Are there any examples?

Merenda: We are hoping to show staff and students that some waste can be used for a variety of new purposes. One young lady sewed bags into a raincoat. Another made a pencil holder out of magazines. Some students learn how to recycle and make paper to make their own cards. We also have a student-run clothing store called The Castaway, where students can exchange or just take clothing as they need. We are trying to make it a culture at Gregori High that using used clothing is cool. Students love thrift shopping, so encouraging them to do this helps everyone. If a student is in need, nobody needs to know. They don’t have to feel left out. They can just come in on exchange days. We are always accepting donations of gently used, laundered clothes for the high school age. The less stuff in the landfill is a great thing. Teaching students to reduce, reuse, repurpose, refurbish and recycle is just the right thing to do.

This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Monday Q&A: Modesto City Schools launches districtwide recycling effort, hopes to reduce carbon footprint."