Increase Your Green Harlem Middle School
the problem:
Harlem Middle School Green Initiative - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Harlem Middle School, 735 Windsor Road, Loves Park, IL 61111. Approximately 1200 students and 100 staff. The Problem: Our school did not recycle and was not reducing or reusing. Our Team 8-4 Round Table (12 students) decided to do something about it.
vital stats:
people impacted:
1,300people involved:
20why it's important:
Team 8-4 became the Eco-Squad. The Team 8-4 Round Table (12 students) started a school-wide paper and plastic recycle program as well as a composting plan. We recycle twice a week and promote reducing, recycling and reusing. We will begin composting in the spring.
the plan of action:
We put 82 recycle bins in every classroom and office throughout the school. We also put 13 large recycle bins around the school. 5 in the cafeteria and 8 in key areas of the school as well as faculty meeting rooms and faculty lounge. We put a "Green Fact of the Day" in the daily school announcements giving examples how to reduce, reuse, or recycle; put posters up all over school encouraging recycling, reducing and reusing; collected the recycled materials twice a week; we got our local waste management company to donate banners for the school; we got a doner to purchase a compost tumbler which we will begin using in the spring with the combined help of the cafeteria, custodians, science teachers, and another school team that maintains the flower beds. Our impact: School-wide enthusiastic participation in helping to save the planet. Approximately 15 barrels of recycled paper and plastic recycled each week. Office staff and teachers are using the backside of printed paper whenever possible and doing more things online without having to print and waste paper (like the daily announcements and meeting agendas and memos). People are remembering to turn out the lights when they leave a room. Students are encouraging their families to reduce, reuse and recycle more at home.
how you can get involved:
Hopefully our fellow students will participate in a wear green day to promote awareness on Earth Day and a tentative swap meet. If anyone else would like to help us you can email us at jplaetzer@harlem122.org.
