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Recycling Container Grant
About the Grant
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District offers grants to help non-profit organizations and schools in Cuyahoga County start, expand and improve recycling and composting programs by assisting with the purchase of recycling and composting containers.
Eligible organizations may apply for up to $2,000 in grant funds. Applications are due in February. This is a “reimbursement grant” meaning that schools would first pay for the approved grant purchases and then submit documentation of these purchases to the Solid Waste District for reimbursement. The Solid Waste District cannot reimburse the individual.
For more information about this grant program, contact Kathleen Rocco or Doreen Schreiber.
2012 Recycling Container Grant awards
In March, the District awarded $40,845 in Recycling Container Grants to twenty-nine local schools and non-profits to purchase recycling or compost bins. Since 2009, the District has awarded $78,000 in Recycling Container Grants to 83 non-proft organizations and schools in Cuyahoga County.
Did you receive a grant before 2012?
- Reimbursement Form (pdf or doc)
- School Recycling Report (pdf or doc)
- End of School Year Recycling Report (pdf or doc)
Please submit completed forms to the following address:
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District
Attn: Mini-Grants Program
4750 East 131 Street
Garfield Heights, Ohio 44105
Conditions of the School Recycling Mini-Grant
- Only approved, documented grant project expenditures will be reimbursed.
- Within six months of the signed award letter, the Grantee must submit a School Recycling Report (Attachment B) to the Solid Waste District along with a student based presentation. The School Recycling Report with photos (digital preferred) may be accompanied by a student live, video or slideshow presentation to a Solid Waste District representative. The District reserves the right to use the School Recycling Report materials to promote the grant, promote recycling and recognize the students' efforts. Photos, showing students in hands-on projects, and student quotes are encouraged. Only photographs of students with picture consent forms signed by parents should be submitted with report.
- Schools must maintain records of the types and amounts of materials recycled in an End of the School Year Recycling Report (Attachment C). This information will be reported to the Solid Waste District at the end of the first full school year.
- Funded projects must be initiated within two months of the award or grant will be rescinded.
- Anything purchased with grant funds is the Solid Waste District’s property until all conditions of the grants are met and approved by the Solid Waste District.
- Schools that are awarded grants must be willing to work with CCSWD’s Education Specialist to sponsor a teacher workshop or participate in one or more of the District’s Education Programs.
School Recycling Help Sheet
For quick payment
- If school obtains an invoice from a business, include the invoice and copy of cut check to pay invoice.
- Purchase equipment right away and turn in receipts.
- Copy of invoice that shows zero balance or paid in full.
Recycling Equipment Resources
- Recycling bins can be ordered through the same company that the school is contracted with for janitorial or office supplies.
- A small number of bins can be purchased through local stores such as Target, Home Depot or office supply stores.
- Simple Labels or Posters for Recycling Bins:
- Companies that sell recycling and trash bins and systems:
- Companies that sell environmental products:
Tips from Past Awardees
- Get plastic recycling bins for each classroom and other significant location and label them.
- Have a set schedule, so teachers know when to put recycling bins in the hall for collection, especially when students collect the bins and classrooms may be locked.
- Keep reminding students and parents of the importance of recycling.
- Continue recycling over the summer months.
- Talk to other teachers who are in charge of their school’s recycling program.
- In short, slow and steady wins the race. The kids have been patient and methodical about encouraging increased recycling in our building. We just try to maintain consistency in our efforts.
- Understand how the reimbursement system will work with the school and Solid Waste District.
- Have an all school assembly, public service announcements, student t.v. commercials, recycling fair, make posters and involve students groups, PTA, custodians and administrators, and use announcements regularly.
- Involve your students, staff and families. Keep the Recycle-O-Meter chart in the hallway for students to see rising.
- The elementary students love to be a part of the green team.
- Find ways to get all teachers and staff involved in recycling because a big project for just one teacher. Find other groups besides the environmental club that can help with moving recyclables. Work towards custodians getting involved.
- Use other groups to get the message out. For example, ask is scouting programs will pass out recycling flyers in the neighborhood to increase public’s use of paper retriever bin at the school.
- Making the decision about what to purchase was tough because all different types available. Consult with education specialist and other schools.
- The administration was resistant, but once program started they became supportive.
Other Comments
- The money our school earns from recycling paper goes to the outdoor learning laboratory.
- Request matching funding from other environmental organizations or local businesses.
- Lunch time recycling of cans and plastic bottles has been problematic because a group cannot monitor the bins throughout lunch periods. Much contamination is occurring despite signs and announcements.
Ideas for Grant Projects
- Permanent classroom recycling bins for paper.
- Recycle bins for bottles and cans in the cafeteria, gym and concession areas. Some schools can now recycle empty milk cartons if recycled done through Greenstar Recycling.
- Large bin with wheels to facilitate collection.
- Outdoor bin for storage of recyclables like cardboard or containers.
- A secure outdoor bin for aluminum cans and mini-electronics such as cell phones or printer cartridges.
- Composting and/or vermicompost equipment for food waste recycling with worms or food composting system.
Program Kick-off Ideas
- School starts a new club.
- Students in the recycling club talked to classrooms and did presentations for the in-house t.v. station.
- Participate in contests sponsored by the Solid Waste District to raise awareness of your recycling program.
- Students sat through an assembly about the recycling program including the Abitibi video. Video also shown to PTA members.
- Recycling letter was sent home and teachers talked to their classes.
- Had a recycling assembly.
- The Student Advisory Team representatives told their classmates about the new recycling process.
- Keep track of how much waste was saved from being landfilled and display it for students and visitors.
- Lined up all lunch waste in cafateria to show how waste adds up.
- Have a lunch box decoration contest.
Get the Message Out to students and community
- Send home information and instructional flyers with the students.
- Pass out information at PTO meetings.
- Create a recycling report segment for the morning announcements.
- Design a permanent display in the school about the recycling program.
- Have students do a skit during a choir or band concert for parents.
- Do a recycling page on your website such as a what can be recycled at school, recycling benefits, and natural resources saved.
- Connect your webpage to the Solid Waste District's www.cuyahogaswd.org.
- Print recycling information in school newspaper and school district newsletter.
- Do a contest.
- Make public service announcements for local access channels on cable.
- Invite the local press to the school to kick off the program.
- Advertised recycling collection on the digital marquis in the front of the building and during PTA meeting announcements.