HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania have collaborated on a school recycling survey that shows Pennsylvania K-12 students have increased their knowledge and awareness of recycling over the past fiscal year.
“Students are our future and it is important to see them raising their awareness of recycling. It is incredible that these schools have championed Pennsylvania’s present and future,” said DEP Acting Secretary Richard Negrin.
From July 2021 to June 2022, PROP (with funding from DEP) coordinated the study. This is the second year of the study, which measures students’ and staff’s understanding of recycling. Schools were asked to complete a short survey and provide details of their current recycling programs and practices. The survey was sent to 3,770 public and private schools in Pennsylvania.
Of the schools surveyed, 86.6% recycle. In addition, 43.5% of the schools surveyed have a recycling awareness program.
In FY2020-2021, the survey was sent to 2,713 schools, of which 199 responded. In FY2020-2021, 81.4% of schools reported having a recycling program.
Some of the questions in the survey are: Does the school recycle? Does your school have a recycling awareness program? Is cost an obstacle?
“Raising awareness of recycling among students is a critical step in ensuring these students recycle into adulthood,” said PROP Executive Director Jennifer Summers. “Recycling is an intergenerational effort and it is imperative that we know how our students are progressing with their recycling knowledge.”
The summary report also describes ways to raise awareness and how schools are responding to waste with other methods such as composting. PROP is instrumental in raising student awareness and hosts an annual poster competition for students.
“Just as our schools must nurture and safeguard the future of their students, our communities must nurture and safeguard the future of our environment,” said Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. “By introducing learners to the importance of recycling, that knowledge can spread, and young minds can be empowered by sharing this important best practice with their friends, families and neighbors.”
Next steps include working with individual coordinators with findings from their districts and a further survey to be used to gather more detail on the types of education and training needed for the schools. The results of the surveys will lead to the creation of tools and resources for schools and school leaders, including web resources.
