Recycling a Priority for Encinitas School District

The City of Encinitas in partnership with the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and the Encinitas Union School District, have initiated comprehensive recycling programs at all nine elementary schools and at the District Office in Encinitas. Because schools represent a large sector of the waste producers in this country, and they are typically some of the larger institutions in every municipality, the City wanted to ensure that they are disposing of their waste responsibly.

To determine the amount of waste that the schools were producing, the City asked the Solana Center to conduct a waste audit at the District Office and at two elementary schools. The results of the audit suggested that by setting up new and strengthening already existing recycling programs, the School district, in some cases, would be able to divert greater than 50% of the waste that they are sending to the landfill. This is significant not only in that it would divert a significant amount of waste from the landfill, but that it could also result in significant cost savings to the schools, as the cost of hauling recyclables is half the cost of hauling trash.

“This is really exciting,” said Dr. Lean King, Superintendent of the Encinitas Union School District, “recycling is without a doubt the right thing to do, and as educators, it is our moral responsibility to be teaching wise conservation habits to our students.” Change is already visible at the District Office. At every work station, each large black trash bin has been replaced with a large blue recycling container that is equipped with a significantly smaller black receptacle for non-recyclables. “When you look at the long list of what can be recycled and the relatively short list of what cannot be recycled, it only makes sense that the recycling bins be larger than the trash bins,” says Stephanie Ewalt, Program Director at the Solana Center.

The schools are very enthusiastic about the recycling program and welcome the support from the Solana Center. “After talking to all the schools, it is clear that everyone agrees that recycling is the right thing to do, the only roadblock for the schools is finding the time to coordinate the effort, and the money to purchase the bins”, says Tara Fuad, of the Solana Center, who is helping spearhead the recycling effort. The Solana Center is assisting the schools by providing the necessary bins, and collaborating with the teachers, principals, parents, students, and custodians to ensure a successful program. “We aren’t trying to create extra work for anyone, and it’s important that everyone is on board so the responsibility doesn’t fall on any one person,” says Fuad.

“I am optimistic that this will be the beginning of something much larger,” notes Jerry Louis, who is on the Board of the Solana Center, “if Encinitas can lift the bar and set an example on school recycling, then hopefully other school districts will follow suit.” To date, one other school district and several other schools in the County have inquired about the program in Encinitas, and would like institute a similar program in their schools.

A comprehensive recycling program in the schools is a win-win proposition for the City and the District. The City benefits through increased public awareness of the need to reduce waste and participation in the city programs. The District benefits by reducing their waste disposal costs, and by instilling in students the idea that conservation is important at school, at home, and throughout the community.

The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (www.solanacenter.org) was founded in 1983 as Solana Recyclers. The Center has been a leader in developing and providing the public with effective environmental solutions. Long known as the pioneer of curbside recycling in San Diego County, California, Solana Center successfully transitioned from curbside recycling in 1996 to focus on the creation of new programs in environmental education, composting, pollution prevention, waste reduction, buying recycled, and household hazardous waste. Solana Center is a solutions-based leader with extensive expertise in resource conservation focused on sustainability.

For more information about the Encinitas School Recycling Project, contact Tara Fuad at 760-436-7986 x214.