HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.1 4-R Challenge Results
STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK
File #810-60
CITY COUNCIL
DATE:May 21, 2013
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Joni Pattillo, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Report on the Year-end results for the 4-R’s Challenge
Prepared by Kathy Southern, Environmental Technician
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report on the activities of the Dublin Unified School District
(DUSD) recycling contest for elementary schools and recognize the year-end top recyclers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the report and present recognition plaques and
prize money to Dougherty Elementary, Frederiksen Elementary, Murray Elementary and Wells
Middle School for their recycling efforts.
Submitted By Reviewed By
Assistant to the City Manager Assistant City Manager
DESCRIPTION:
The adopted Dublin Green Plan includes a goal to work with the City's schools to increase
awareness of the City's recycling and composting programs. In response, City and Dublin
Unified School District (DUSD) Staff applied for and received funding from the Altamont
Education and Advisory Board (EAB) for a second year of a three year grant program to conduct
a recycling contest for the District's six elementary schools and the two middle schools. The
Grant was awarded in the amount of $18,010. The grant paid for supplies to assist the schools
in establishing and increasing their recycling and composting programs, provided each school
with educational assemblies, and will pay for prizes for the winning schools and their custodians.
The goal of the program has been to reduce waste in each of the schools, establish the City's
composting program at every school, and enhance recycling through education, as well as
make it exciting by having each school compete to be the top recycler.
ITEM NO. 3.1
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All eight schools participated in assemblies and received supplies to help them with their
recycling programs. The City's waste hauler, Amador Valley Industries (AVI), assisted school
staff with establishing their composting programs. At the start of year two, there were three
elementary and one middle school signed up for full food scrap composting, including Murray,
Dougherty, and Frederiksen Elementary schools, along with Wells Middle school. The other
four schools were composting lunch trays. In October, Fallon Middle school went to full food
scrap composting and in April, Dublin Elementary began full food scrap composting.
In addition, all schools have recycling programs in their classrooms. Several schools utilize
student leadership or green teams to assist with the collection and removal of recyclables from
the classroom to the outdoor containers. Most schools have a school garden, and some
schools even have internal composting and worm bins.
Staff has monitored progress and provided technical assistance through waste audits and lunch
time observations. This year the City hosted seven custodians at a StopWaste field trip to the
Davis Street transfer station. Staff believes the recycling program has been very successful, and
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has applied for a 3 year for the 4R’s grant for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 to continue building on
the program. If the grant is accepted, Staff would work with the District to include the District
offices and the high schools in the contest next year.
End of Year Results
Results for the year-end challenge were based on several factors, including total waste
production and the increase in diversion of recyclable and compostable materials from the
landfill from the start of the school year to the end of April (on a per student basis). This year in
the scoring, a heavy emphasis was placed on low waste production or the “Reduce” phase of
the four “Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot), including waste, recycling and organics. In
addition, bonus points for special programs and processes each school has participated in
during the school year to enable their success were also included in the year-end results.
The results are as follows:
Diversion Diversion Sustainability
School Rate Points Points Total
80%
1st place Dougherty Elementary 47.44 80.00 127.44
61%
2nd place Frederiksen Elementary 31.92 70.00 101.92
61%
3rd place (tie) Murray Elementary 21.28 80.00 101.28
64%
3rd place (tie) Wells Middle School 51.28 50.00 101.28
The end-of-the-year awards include monitory incentives for each school and for their
custodians.
The prizes for the schools are: $1,000, $500, $250, $250 to the top four winners, and $100
thth
each for 4-7 place.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A representative from Dougherty Elementary, Frederiksen Elementary, Murray Elementary and
Wells Middle School has been invited to the City Council meeting to receive the Certificate of
Recognition.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
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