| Merced County Model Schools |
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The intent of the program is to implement on-campus recycling programs to collect recyclable commodities, buy recycled content products and obtain measurable results from the program. In 2000 Weaver School District was the first school in Merced County to become a Model School. Weaver has maintained a very successful program. In the past three years Weaver has diverted 9% of their waste stream annually as well as saved $1478.48 in disposal fees. Weaver School has an estimated 10% population increase, however as a district no additional general refuse collection was needed because of the recycling program. Weaver School source-separates cardboard, bimetal food cans, white ledger and beverage containers, and stores this material in locked 2.5 cubic yard scrap bins. Turlock Recycling provides an on-call recycling service by removing the full bins and exchanging them for empty ones. Turlock Recycling charges $60 per recycling service. Because the material is source-separated, Turlock Recycling pays Weaver School for this material. Weaver School is also certified by the Department of Conservation as a Community Service Collection Program for California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers. This certification entitles the holder to processing and handling payments-in addition to the CRV value, when taken to, or collected by, a full-service recycling processor. To further boost their fundraising efforts, Turlock Recycling pays Weaver School processing and handling payments-in addition to CRV-for all beverage containers collected and recycled by the district. Other Model schools within the County include: 2002- Mitchell Senior School in Atwater and Cruickshank Middle school located in Merced. 2003- Prospective Schools include Tenaya Middle school in Merced, McSwain School district and Romero School in Santa Nella. MCAG
is currently seeking schools within Merced County who are interested in participating in
the model school program. Equipment, recycling service fees and
technical support are paid for by the jurisdiction in which the school is
located if grant funding is available. All
proceeds paid to each school remain the property of that school. For
schools applying for grant funding through SB 373 (DEEL), MCAG can
facilitate program implementation and on-going support with developing
on-campus programs.
Call
(209) 723-3153 Ext 315 for more information.
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CRV=California Redemption Value Paid
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 Click
the camera to view theModel Schools Photo Gallery |
Through
a grant from the Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, The
County of Merced began the model-schools’ recycling program in the
summer of 2000. The Merced County Regional Recycling Program administers
this project through MCAG.