Recycling Case Studies
Purdy High School
The Purdy High School recycling program in Southwest Missouri was initiated in 2005, with a dual goal of providing a service to the community and raising funds for the Spanish Club. Just five years later, this self-sustaining program successfully recovered 26 tons of paper - 77 pounds per student – while providing rigorous academic integration and education for the community at large.
Before their third anniversary Purdy High had constructed a new collection and processing facility and published a book called Bringing it Back Around, detailing how to build a similar program. Students ranging from 5th – 12th grades are provided with hands-on environmental education by participating in what remains an all-volunteer program administered by the Spanish Club.
Starting with middle school students, the program seeks to train students who in turn teach their families about the value of recyclables and the environment.
HistoryIn 2005, there was no recycling available in the town of Purdy. The Purdy Recycling Project was established in 2005 as a community service and fundraising project of the Spanish Club.The program successfully recovered 26 tons of paper-77 pounds per student in 2010.
ProcessBefore their third anniversary Purdy High had constructed a new collection and processing facility and published a book called Bringing it Back Around, providing a blueprint for others on how to build a similar program. Students ranging from 5th – 12th grades are provided with hands-on environmental education by participating in what remains an all-volunteer program administered by the Spanish Club.Purdy has created a self-sustaining full-service collection and processing facility, encompassing 12 different recoverable materials, in order to maximize income and be sustainable.
EducationMonthly newsletters in local papers; banners in the streets in both English and Spanish announce recycling-related community events; handouts explain what is accepted and how it is processed. A detailed 10-level training program for middle and high school students helps educate students and their families.Skill level tests help promote pride in knowledge of recycling and sustainability.
PartnersSuccess has been achieved through active engagement with school faculty and administration, the Purdy City Council, local solid waste districts, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Real Greenius. Purdy High School is affiliated with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and through the recycling program maintains a special Youth Empowerment and Leadership Project (YELP) for the hardest-working middle and high school members. Students become eligible for membership when they reach 50 hours of community service.A Community Advisory Board consists of 15 members representing diverse segments of the community, including the Board of Education and key local businesses.
OutreachStarting with middle school students, the program seeks to train students who in turn teach their families about the value of recyclables and recycling.Purdy has created a self-sustaining full-service collection and processing facility, encompassing 12 different recoverable materials, in order to maximize income and be sustainable. Two recycling classes work each school day while club members work on first and third Saturday mornings.
- In 2010, 63.5 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. This represents an 89 percent increase in the recovery rate since 1990.
- Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
- 87 percent (268 million) of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.
- In 2010 the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 334 pounds for each man, woman and child in the United States.