Purpose
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is accepting applications for a School Recycling Mini-Grant of up to $500. This grant program is designed to assist Cuyahoga County schools with funding student-centered school recycling projects. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is looking to support projects that involve students in establishing or expanding a school recycling program. A total of five grants will be awarded in 2006. All eligible applicants that meet grant conditions will be considered for grant funding.

Applications will be accepted through January 30, 2006. 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.

Eligibility & Applicant Information

• Any school in Cuyahoga County, which is recognized by the Ohio Department of Education, is eligible to apply for a School Recycling Mini Grant.
• Grant projects must be coordinated and administered by a classroom teacher, school administrator, student group advisor or parent organization.
• Grantees must demonstrate the ability to purchase approved grant items for later reimbursement by the Solid Waste District.

Allowable Projects

School Recycling Mini-Grants may be used for the following purposes:
• Recycling equipment and supplies such as recycling bins, can crushers or recycling signs.
• Promotional materials such as posters, banners and fliers to promote recycling program.
• Permanent educational materials needed for the recycling project.

Mini-grant funds may not be used for the following purposes:

• Student activity books or teacher activity books.
• General professional development or higher education courses.
• Recycled-content giveaways.
• Entertainment programs.

Application Deadline
The 2006 deadline for the School Recycling Mini-Grant application is January 30, 2006. Contact Kathleen Rocco, Education Specialist at 216-443-3731 with any questions. Proposals may be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District
Attn: Mini-Grants Program
323 Lakeside Ave. W., Suite 400
Cleveland, OH 44113

Forms

• Application Form (PDF, 95 KB)
• Reimbursement Form (PDF, 26 KB)
• School Recycling Report (PDF, 26 KB)
• End of School Year Recycling Report (PDF, 27 KB)

Application Process

1. One original and one copy of the application form must be submitted to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District by January 30, 2006.
2. Proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria stated below by District staff. The five qualified applications with the highest score will be approved for funding.
3. Within thirty days of the application deadline, all Applicants will be notified as to whether or not their application was approved for funding.

Grant Payments

1. The Solid Waste District will reimburse Grantees for approved grant expenditures following the submittal of a signed W-9 form, receipts, and the completed reimbursement form (Attachment A).
2. Requests for reimbursement must be made within sixty days of the signed award letter.
3. Reimbursement will be processed in thirty days of submitted documentation.

Conditions of the Grant

1. Only approved, documented grant project expenditures will be reimbursed.
2. Within six months of the signed award letter, the Grantee must submit a School Recycling Report (Attachment B) to the Solid Waste District. 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.
3. 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 and second full school that the recycling program is in place.
4. Funded projects must be initiated within two months of the award or grant will be rescinded.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Evaluation Criteria
All eligible applicants that submit completed, eligible applications will be reviewed and evaluated for funding by the Solid Waste District staff using the following criteria:

1. Application Form: Applications must fully describe the grant project, proposed recycling program and the materials to be purchased. Well organized, well though out recycling projects will receive the highest consideration.
2. Sustainability of the Recycling Program: Applications must demonstrate how the recycling program will be implemented, promoted and maintained. Projects that demonstrate the program longevity will receive the highest consideration.
3. Educational Impact: Applications must indicate how students will be involved in establishing and monitoring the recycling program. Projects that affect student understanding of and participation in recycling will receive the highest consideration.
4. Internal Organization: Applications must indicate the adult person(s) who will be in charge of implementing and administering the grant project and identify the students groups to be involved. Projects that involve student groups with the organization of implementation of the recycling program will receive the highest consideration.