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San Lorenzo schools earn prize
Oakland Tribune, Oct 21, 2005 by Michelle Beaver, STAFF WRITER
Way less garbage and lots more money -- a winning combination.
The Oro Loma Sanitary District offered a cash incentive to the San Lorenzo School District last year to reduce waste from the schools, and it made good on the deal this week.
The schools held up their part of the bargain, too -- they reduced overall waste by at least 30 percent.
San Lorenzo-based Oro Loma gave
$16,000 to the district, which went above and beyond by reducing waste by 5 percent more than required.
According to teachers and administrators, the program received incredible support.
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"The staff and students at Grant are very environmentally conscious," said Karen Langmaid, a district employee. "Once given the tools to recycle, they jumped at the chance to do it and do it well. The staff participates not because of a District directive, but because they want to."
Support from students was the most impressive. It is students, in fact, who carry out a lot of the labor, such as sorting, cleaning and collecting recyclable materials within the schools.
Third-grader Nolan Pirtle is one of hundreds who believe in the mission.
"It's important that Grant students keep papers, milk cartons and cardboard out of landfills because they could pollute our world, and you shouldn't do that," he said. "That's why I recycle."
Recycling bins are kept in every classroom, and once a week all the waste is collected. Fliers that explain the program are posted through the schools, and each class is taught how to follow the program.
The program started on a small scale in 2002 and has expanded to the whole district. It is sponsored by Oro Loma and Alameda County Waste Management Authority.
According to administrators, the district will put the money to good use. Oro Loma is not likely to offer an incentive again, but that's OK, Langmaid said.
"The staff and students of San Lorenzo School District participate because it's a great learning experience. It helps keep them in touch with their environment, and most importantly, it's the right thing to do."
Program participants are confident that the recycling campaign will continue successfully for a long time.
Michelle Beaver is a general assignment reporter who also covers police and San Lorenzo. She can be reached at mbeaver@dailyreviewonline.com or (510) 293-2463.
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