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Higher Ground Academy

1381 Marshall Ave , St. Paul, MN 55104

• The Green Team at Higher Ground Academy, engaging students and teachers in energy projects through MN Schools Cutting Carbon (a CERTs partnership program). The team was awarded at MnSCC grant to begin a recycling project at the school.
Brenda Hasan-Jackson, brenda@hgacademy.org

Higher Ground working to create a zero waste school!

Other

School Cutting Carbon Grant Report
February 8, 2011

Higher Ground Academy is currently making progress towards implementing a full scale recycling program throughout our school. A tenth grade biology class led by Mr. Adler, prepared powerpoint presentations on recycling and the processes to follow in our school. They are in the process of presenting to all of our students. As of Friday, January 31 we received final notification from Eureka Recycling Company that they would begin collecting our milk cartons and other recyclables. The milk carton collection was accepted after a representative of Eureka Recycling came to our school last month to do a walk-through of our building to see what was feasible in terms of recyclable materials and how they could help our systems operate.

We use plastic coated cereal containers and small plastic juice containers for breakfast which were found to be non recyclable. I had hopes of recycling many waste products in the area of food service and we are able to do so with many food preparation items. One of the things that is a big part of this project is getting our students and families to get into the habit of recycling. This is pivotal in terms of our school having the opportunity to participate in milk carton recycling. The students have been practicing emptying milk cartons completely in anticipation of placing them in a special container that will be delivered by Eureka Recycling Company. This procedure will be consistently supervised by staff.

I am looking at current pricing to possibly purchase recycling containers for every classroom (42) and office areas. If I deem it affordable and cost worthy, they will be ordered this week. One other option is to use cardboard boxes for classrooms and order special recycling containers for bottles, cans, and plastics to place in high traffic areas.

Mr. Adler’s biology class will begin putting together data pertaining to current costs of garbage disposal and other related costs. They will monitor, compare and contrast the quantity of garbage and recycling materials and input the data for analysis of our carbon footprint.

Excitement is in the air as we prepare for our recycling program at Higher Ground Academy!