Green Schools Project

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  1. 1 Recycling center at Washington Elementary made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
  2. 2 Student uses the share table cooler at moose lake community school.
  3. 3 Cloquet middle schoolers go through their sorting line for trash, recycling, and organics.
  4. 4 Student help with food waste sorting at Cloquet Middle School.
  5. 5 Hallway Collection Bins at Moose Lake Community School for trash, plastic, glass, and metal
  6. 6 Elementary students learning to sort their food waste at Churchill Elementary.

Green Schools Project is Carlton County’s School Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Program, funded through the SCORE program.  

Available Funds & Application

Each school facility may apply for a maximum of $2,000 per school per year. Applications for annual grant funds are due November 30th.  Applications will be competitively ranked.  Schools can apply and be awarded this grant more than once.

Eligibility

All educational institutions in Carlton County are eligible. 

The Process

  1. Fill out the application and requirements document.
  2. Identify a "Green Team" for communications.
  3. Complete a grant agreement with Carlton County to release funds.
  4. Maintain a "Recycling and Waste Reduction Guide" for the school.
  5. Submit a final report detailing purchases.

Purpose

According to a 2010 MPCA study titled "Digging Deep Through School Trash" public schools in Minnesota produce 483,520 pounds of waste per day! Many of the materials being thrown away by schools can be reduced, reused, and recycled. In fact, 78% of school waste materials could be diverted from the landfill through organics collection, paper collection, and recycling plastic and metal containers.

The Green Schools Project aims to ensure the quantity of waste in local schools is reduced and that recyclable materials are diverted from the solid waste stream. Upon successful completion of these goals, students and staff will gain valuable knowledge on the importance of waste reduction and recycling. This knowledge can then be brought outside of the school and implemented at home. Working with institutions, such as schools, will aid in the effort to increase the County’s overall recycling rate and reduce waste to landfills.

Grant Documents

  1. Green Schools Project Grant Application & Requirements (PDF)
  2. Green Schools Project Grant Agreement (PDF)
  3. Green Schools Project Final Report Form (PDF)

Additional Documents

  1. Green Schools Brochure (PDF)
  2. Green Schools Project Resources and Vendors (PDF)
  3. Green Team Flyer (PDF)

Newsletter

View the most recent or archived Recycler's Digest Newsletters.

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