Recycle – plastic, glass, metal, clean paper and cardboard

Compost –all uneaten food, cardboard lunch trays, napkins, paper towels, paper plates and cups, milk cartons (from lunch program), and pizza boxes.

Garbage – juice boxes and juice pouches, chip bags, granola and candy bar wrappers

When packing your child’s lunch please keep this program in mind and strive for a “zero waste” lunch.  Tips:

• Buy snacks in bulk and send them to school in reusable containers
• Pack sandwiches in reusable containers instead of Ziploc bags
• Use a bottle or thermos for drinks instead of juice boxes

A waste audit conducted last year showed that only 10-20% of what we threw away was actually garbage.  Environmentally and economically beneficial, our goal is to reduce our garbage, reuse what we can, and recycle and compost the rest.  Please look for the new blue recycling and green compost cans when you are on campus.

Thank you for your support

How cool is that?!

http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/index.php

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 70% of the
toxic heavy metals in landfills comes form electronic waste.

At some point electronics break or become obsolete; but the lead and
mercury contained inside them cause lasting damage to our environment
by leaching into the ground water and polluting our streams and
wildlife.

What should you do?
Laws for electronic waste are changing all the time. For the latest
reuse or disposal options, call the Recycling Center Hotline or visit
their website for a searchable list. Currently here at Palo Verde, to
get you and family started on life-long recycling habits we will
continue to collect  mouse, cell phones and accessories, CDs or DVDs,
inkjet printer cartridges, small electronic batteries- up to “D” size,
laptop batteries, cell phone batteries and fluorescent light bulbs.
The electronics recycling box is located next to the office entrance.

What else can you do?
Electronics are perfect candidates for reuse. Rather than recycling,
give them to someone who can use them.

• 30%   Paper and other paper products
• 24%   Plastic products (plastic bags/containers)
• 11%    Food and yard waste
• 8%     Metal products
• 6%     Rubber and Leather such as tires, old shoes, old clothing and furniture
• 21%   Other trash (broken TVs, old lamps, diapers, toys, glass containers, old batteries

Here is what you can do to help:

• Recycle newspapers, glass, batteries, and plastics.
• Use both sides of the paper.
• Compost all of your leftover food at home and later use as fertilizer in your garden.
• Use rechargeable batteries for toys, games, radios and flashlights.
• Visit the Recycling Center, to find out what else you can recycle.

More tips to for a “greener” live

• Fix leaky pipes and faucets. One tiny leak can waste up to 50 gallons of water a day!
• Save water by taking short showers and washing only full loads of laundry.
• Discard plastic beverage rings ONLY AFTER cutting open all of the loops. These six-pack plastic rings are harmful to birds and other creatures that often get caught in the plastic loops. If you have a choice, buy soda six-packs made from biodegradable plastic.
• Never throw toxic materials into the trash. Things like paint, household cleaners, and motor oil need special disposal. Call 1-800-CLEANUP or visit www.CLEANUP.org to learn where special disposal sites are located.
• Organize a neighborhood clean-up. Suggest that your classroom, scout troop, Sunday school class, or neighborhood friends host a neighborhood clean-up day to pick up litter.
• Properly inflate your car tires. Remind the drivers in your house to “check the air” each time they fill up with gas. Driving on under-inflated tires wastes gas and wears out tires.
• Save energy in the bathroom. Turn off the water when you aren’t using it! Take short showers instead of baths.
• brush your teeth with the water off, and buy a “flush saver” for your toilet (or put a brick in the tank).
• Turn the air-conditioning thermostat up or off . Save valuable energy by keeping AC above 75 degrees in your house.
• Turning off the AC in your car will increase gas mileage and save valuable energy.
• Use and re-use cloth bags at the grocery store. Instead of carrying groceries in paper or plastic bags that get thrown away, take your own cloth bags to the store. Even paper or plastic bags can be used several times, and some stores offer a discount for re-using their grocery bags.
• Visit the library or surf the Internet. The library has many books that are full of valuable information on the environment. Or check the World Wide Web. Once you’ve read about the environment, spread the word!