THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
Dist. 64 Saves Green By 'Going Green' At 3 Schools
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Reporter
Like the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 is getting more serious about "going green" and recycling.
Part of a $2,575 mixed-waste recycling program at three District 64 schools was approved Monday night (May 12) by the board of education. It will be implemented at Lincoln and Emerson middle schools and Roosevelt Elementary School starting this fall.
The program involves purchasing 96-gallon containers with lids to be used for collection of recyclable lunch trash. Andy Duerkop, a faculty member, recommended the program be implemented at all eight schools, but the board chose to limit it to the three schools where assistant principals are available to assist in the implementation.
Since the first year involves only three buildings, the actual cost will be less than half the original estimated amount.
Motivating the effort is a difference between what the district preaches to students and what it actually does up to now," Duerkop said. "District curriculum teaches our students to 'reduce, reuse, and recycle,' but currently, our practices in the schools are contradictory to these teachings.
"To meet our current recycling needs, each middle school would require weekly pickup of two 96-gallon bins per school," Duerkop said in a memo to the board.
"Elementary schools would require weekly pickup of one bin per school. ARC Disposal would charge the district $24 monthly for weekly pickup of the first 96-gallon bin and $21 monthly for each additional bin at each building.
"A recent audit at Lincoln indicated that students generate approximately 18 pounds of recyclable lunch trash per day," he said. "This is enough to fill a 50-gallon container if the aluminum and plastic items are compacted."
He estimated that students will separate about 70% of recyclable materials at the point of disposal, and this number will increase after the program is implemented.
In addition to this program, Duerkop has recommended formation of a District Green Committee, comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, custodial staff, and members of Park Ridge city government. It would share ideas and implement and monitor environmental improvements in school district buildings.