Rochester Schools to Explore Recycling Options

Should invest in a districtwide recycling program?

The answer to that question will be debated in the coming months, as the district explores the costs, benefits and drawbacks of a coordinated recycling effort.

Current recycling efforts

Recycling in Rochester's 22 elementary, middle and high schools is loosely organized based on the school. Some schools coordinate recycling efforts through school Green Committees or parent-teacher groups. Many have permanent bins in parking lots for recycling paper products — though it's up to the individual classrooms whether and how to use the bins.

Some schools separately recycle batteries, ink cartridges and plastic bottles.

"We have always had requests to look into recycling as a district, but we've known from the get-go that it would be an added expense," said Debbi Hartman, the school district's communications specialist.

In the past two weeks, parents have written to Board of Education members about the importance of a districtwide recycling policy.

Cindy Jacklin is a parent who coordinates the recycling program at that school.

"It is one of the things I am most proud of when I talk about volunteering for the PTA because I feel the students get so much more out of it than just recycling," Jacklin wrote to the board. "It goes hand in hand with much of the science curriculum, which the students enjoy."

Jacklin lives in the mobile home park, as do many of the students at McGregor, she said. The mobile home park is not provided with curbside recycling; Jacklin collects her recycling and drives it each week to a recycling facility in Royal Oak.

"For many of these children the only exposure they get to recycling is at school," she stated.

What's next

The school district's contract with Waste Management expires this year. In seeking bids for garbage services, John Stoner, director of facility operations, said he has asked recycling to be figured into the calculations.

On Monday night, Stoner suggested a committee be formed to analyze the bids and partner with community members to assess the cost and implementation of recycling. 

"We have to do something to move in the right direction," board member Chuck Coutteau said.

Hartman guessed the cost for the recycling services on top of normal waste services would be between $60,000 and $70,000. However, that wouldn't include added expenses of recycling bins or any extra personnel that would be needed to maintain and manage a recycling system.