Mr. SWICK
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Dundee-Crown High School Recycling Program
Cooking up Some Great Educational Opportunities for StudentsThe Dundee-Crown High School Recycling Program is one of the most comprehensive and complete of any school. It collects and processes four grades of paper in every classroom and office; aluminum cans from eight locations (not including sporting events); polystyrene, plastic bottles and paper lunch bags in the cafeteria; corrugated cardboard, chipboard, steel cans, and six-pack rings, and grease from the kitchen; and glass, motor oil, car batteries and a few odd and occasional materials from various locations. Not only are a wide variety of materials collected but a very high percentage of their school's recyclables are collected. Participation rates have been calculated for copy paper, aluminum cans and compartment trays. By knowing what is used in a given period and how much is collected for recycling, participation rates were determined. Cafeteria recycling is consistently in the 80% range. paper return has exceeded 90%. Actual paper volume is down due to staff adopting reduction and reuse habits. When the staff was asked to cut back on using the less-valuable colored grade, they reduced weekly volume from 50% down to 5%. A total school commitment is evident. During the school's Earth Week celebration, each day of the week to emphasize different themes to heighten awareness on a variety of issues. Students and staff show their spirit by not driving, having a beef-free lunch, conserving energy and paper, pledging to the Earth Flag, learning to look at themselves as a common earth culture, enjoying an all-school picnic, participating in various demonstrations and being part of several tree-planting ceremonies. The week's intent was to heighten environmental awareness and foster a unity between students and staff together to care for the earth. participation and cooperation are high among both students and staff. this is most obvious when more than 30% of the school's population wears official Earth Day T-shirt for that particular year. On another level, students in the Conservation program collect prairie seeds for the school's prairie. The prairie is next to the school's tree nursery, where they planted 500 native trees for arbor study, wildlife habitat and heritage. Many Conservation students received personal letters of appreciation from local and county government officials and appeared in newspaper editorial columns for their significant concerns, views and recommendations on yard waste and open space legislation. They received the Fox Valley Land Foundation's Byways for Wildlife Award for their significant impact on upon the township's vote to preserve 50 -100 acres of natural area. They were awarded top honors at the Friends of the Fox Student Congress for their river conservation work. Their stream-study findings later initiated a village awareness and consequential action to correct erosion-control measures. Kane County awarded them the Outstanding School Recycling Program. The recycling, river conservation and land-use activism will continue. The Recycling Program has already been expanded to include additional grades of paper. Planned additions will include a vermicomposting (food via worms) demonstration in all of the school district's 18 schools and yard waste composting. DCHS has developed a waste composting demonstration site for Kane County, and has started a countywide Student Congress for Recycling. As in past years, students will travel to feeder schools to educate younger students on trees, recycling and other conservation issues. Also, storm drains have been painted, streams monitored, trees planted, legislation recommended, community members informed (in English and Spanish) and the Earth Flag will continue to fly at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. |
Mr. Swick • Environmental Science •
Dundee-Crown High School •
Carpentersville, Illinois
http//www.centerkey.com/swick 
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