Paper+recycling+program

** Program Report February 2011 ** ** Background ** Aquinas College is a large school of over 1600 students and 150 staff and generates large volumes of paper and cardboard and the use does not appear to have diminished over the past few years. The paper recycling program has been in place for several years and has been overseen by the Environment and Sustainability Co-ordinator ESC. The volume of paper purchased by the College along with the volumes of paper belonging to students will form the basis of the paper in the waste stream. The effectiveness of the recycling program will then be considered largely in relation to the volume of paper purchased by the College as it will be too problematic to measure student generated volumes. Paper purchase information is available through the accounts department but has not been generated or investigated for this report. It does appear though that there has been a growing volume of paper being collected and at the beginning of 2011 there were 21 blue VISY paper recycling bins but no separate cardboard bin collection facility. At busy times, particularly at the beginning of the year (certainly the case this year) lots of cardboard boxes came through the college carrying new books and stationary and new computer components. Some of these empty boxes are being stored in the caged area next to the IT offices and create clutter in what has formerly been a through passage into what was the year 10 area. This area is caged off and entry controlled by an A-4 padlock key. Most of the other cardboard boxes were recycled via the blue bins but some boxes were disposed of into general waste. In the past collections of cardboard boxes have been taken off for recycling by the maintenance team in the ute. Most blue bins had some identification of its location in the school with an A3 paper sign and covered in contact. These were generally in poor condition. It was determined that the College pays a small fee ($9 per collection to be verified) for the collection and this is billed monthly to the College. The bins are the property of VISY and any bins in disrepair can be repaired at VISY’s cost. The previous contract for paper collection finished in 2008 and the fee has not changed since then. Approximately 35 VISY paper recycling boxes were identified throughout the college but these were not located in all rooms or office administrative areas. Some boxes may be in rooms that are not timetabled at the moment - K building and can be relocated. There appeared to be a number of potential locations for paper collection boxes. The condition of the boxes was generally satisfactory and some minor repairs needed. Only two of the year 7 classrooms had paper boxes and some in year 8 classes. Students have been involved in putting blue bins out for collection and this appears to have been administered by an enthusiastic teacher willing to work with a class/classes to manage the placement and return of the blue bins. A key staff member involved in the administration of the class pick up system moved school but there is no information here to indicate what affect this had on the pick up system. At times when students are not at school staff have been involved in putting out and bringing back blue bins. This has generally been alerted to staff via email. It appears that there has been some commitment from some class/homeroom /mentor teachers to install, facilitate and monitor the proper use of the paper boxes in classrooms but this is not implemented in every room throughout the school. The number of classes has increased along with the number of students in the College generating potentially more pick up points for paper. Towards the end of 2010 some of the responsibility for the paper bin collection seems to have moved over to the year 10 VCAL students as part of a program administered by the VCAL teacher. ** Developments in 2011. ** 1. To facilitate the paper recycling at the beginning of 2011 in the early part of term one the year 10 VCAL class have taken on the responsibility for the replacement and return of the blue bins. Discussions were held and it appears that the VCAL program provided an opportunity for the students to administer a valuable and real project at an organisational level. This program would help them complete the requirements of their VCAL courses. Bins are currently being placed out on Mondays for a Tuesday collection by VISY in the area of the College grounds just south of the Thomas St entrance. Due to timetabling of the VCAL classes the bins are not being returned until Thursday. The bins are then out on Thomas St from Monday through to Thursday and in some cases even potentially Friday if there are any issues with the classes returning the bins. Staff are used to the blue bins being in place and the longer the bins are not in their usual place it seems the less paper they will collect or the longer the paper will stay in the paper boxes potentially increasing the risk of contamination. The bins and information sheets on them are also subject to the effects of the weather. 2. The program for the VCAL students is still bedding down and the support for the paper recycling program from the students is still being developed. It is yet to be determined if the recycling pick up meets the needs of the VCAL courses but the potential is there. This does appear to be a great opportunity to engage the students in a real project and a worthwhile curriculum initiative. At the moment the importance of this may not be apparent to the students or the broader College community. The requirements of the Aussi Vic Waste module (which have been assessed but not presented more widely to all staff ) make it clear that best practice activities in a school would involve students in a waste collection program with a clear plan to involve students and the broader community as part of a curriculum initiative. What is also important is that the school maximises paper collection which will effectively minimise waste to land fill. Values that are not in dispute throughout the College, but which present challenges at the practical pick up level. Engaging the whole school community is vital for the success of all recycling programs. 3. Two of the blue bins needed repair: A lid and one lid mechanism to allow the lid to open properly. VISY were contacted and the bins were repaired as expected. 4. Lenovo computer boxes were sourced from the IT area by the ESC and used to place in to the year 7 area and identified with class names on the side of the boxes. 12 other boxes are currently in the 7-8 team leaders office pending discussions with SRC representatives to contact the ESC and implement a program to install boxes in classrooms that don’t have paper recycling boxes. To be monitored by ESC. 5. After discussion with the VCAL co-ordinator new signs were prepared and were in place on the blue bins for the first collection. Additional Lenovo computer boxes were processed by the VCAL students and covered with appropriate labels and placed in senior building. 6. Twenty VISY paper boxes were to be ordered ($5.50 each) but this has not happened in an attempt to try and use more Lenovo boxes where possible which cost nothing and is a practical way of reusing resources. 7. Organisation of blue pin put out and pick up by staff occurred at the beginning of 2011 through email requests to staff who responded very well. 8. Repairs were affected by the ESC to the damaged paper boxes at the beginning of 2011 to make them functional 9. A cardboard collection bin (lockable) 1.5 cub m ordered from VISY to be housed in Science precinct and moved out for on call Pick up. A small fee $9 per month and $10 pick up fee. Whole staff to be informed when it is in place. Volume can be monitored. ** Recommendations and plan of action 2011 ** 1. Develop the paper recycling program to incorporate positive class/student participation where possible which is a requirement for AussiVic best practice. The program needs to ensure that the blue bins are put out and returned in a timely manner. 2. The VCAL program looks likely to support recommendation 1 especially the “put out” phase of the blue bins and we need to encourage and support this initiative. A reassessment of the effectiveness to occur at the end of term one. 3. VCAL students should be encouraged to continue with their weighing regime to monitor the paper waste generated and for the class to prepare a report on this to the wider community through the Aquinas //Sustainability Matters// web pages currently under development. 4. VCAL co-ordinator to prepare a report on the initial stages of the VCAL project and publish to the college community via **//Lighthouse//** and then **//Sustainability Matters//** 5. Implement a “put back” system as soon as possible after “pick up”. This is most likely to be Wednesday morning at the earliest and be administered through the use of the broader community and classes if needed. Some staff have been used to picking up the empty bins and are willing to continue this Eg. ARC and Printroom, Middle School Office, Science Lab techs. ESC to develop and monitor with a preference to engage students in the process as much as possible. 6. At no stage should the bin pick up and put back be part of a punishment regime. 7. Sometimes various impacts on staff may affect the return of bins on Wednesdays (see recommendation 5) which will need to be monitored by ESC. 8. Program for emptying class boxes into blue bins to be enhanced and encouraged through homeroom and mentor classes at each level. This requires on-going monitoring. . 9. Paper recycling support staff drawn from the broader college community (parent volunteer or Aquinas friend or other even responsible student) who can work within the practices of the current system should be considered as a back up to follow up and oversee bin return and paper box emptying. The ESC clearly could be seen to have this role but as the demands for Certification through Aussi Vic are increasingly implemented this support might be necessary. This could also carry with it some token acknowledgement such as vouchers or group luncheon for paarticipants 10. Continue to place Lenovo computer boxes around the school as substitutes for the VISY boxes
 * Aquinas College Paper Recycling Program **