Mayor Brown Call on City Schools to Recycle

                              
Buffalo’s new ‘Green Cart’ recycling program continues to set monthly recyclable collection records!

BUFFALO – September 12, 2012 - Mayor Byron Brown celebrated the start of the school year today at the Math, Science and Technology Preparatory School (#197) by congratulating members of the ‘recycling club” for enthusiastically helping to launch the city’s newly expanded recycling program called ‘Buffalo Green Cart Recycling’ in their school.  Mayor Brown is calling on all schools city-wide to participate in the recycling program.

“I want to applaud the students and staff at the Math, Science and Technology Preparatory School in Buffalo as the first school to fully integrate Buffalo’s newly expanded recycling program, and encourage every school throughout the city to take part in the ‘Buffalo Green Cart Recycling’ program,” said Mayor Brown.  “The school’s recycling program will be similar to the city’s program in that students can put all recyclable material, including paper, plastic and metal, into the containers located in every classroom.  With the help of the ‘recycling club’, the containers will be emptied each week into the new green carts, and rolled out to the curb.”

Buffalo rolled out more than 70,000 recycling carts to city residents, beginning in December 2011, and citizens embraced the program right away, consistently breaking records for recycling.  The city’s revenue since January, 2012 is estimated to be $105,141.70 and the estimated savings since then is $515,000.00, including recycling revenue and cost avoidance from landfill fees.

The city’s recycling program is simple and consistent. Residents can put all types of recyclable materials into the green carts without sorting them. Now it’s time to integrate that success into city schools. Currently, the recycling program is being launched in two Buffalo schools: Math, Science and Technology Preparatory School (#197,) and PS32 Bennett Park Montessori.   In the weeks and months to come, the recycling program will slowly be introduced to other schools, one school at a time, and at no additional cost to the Board of Education or the City of Buffalo.

The school, the city, and the students themselves are expected to reap some positive benefits from the recycling program. It will get students more involved in recycling, as well as educate them about the importance of recycling. The program will also continue to promote recycling city-wide. 

Schools often generate a large amount of material, such as paper, milk cartons, etc., and all of these overlooked recyclables offer an opportunity for the city to gain revenue. The city will work with each school to set up a program, beginning with the most enthusiastic schools first.

Sticking with the guiding principles of Mayor Brown’s Administration, Buffalo schools integrating the new recycling system will strengthen the city’s economic development activities with revenue from recycling to fund city improvements. Also, the program will improve the quality of life for city residents with a cleaner environment and recycling education for local students.  For more information, visit:  www.city-buffalo.com/recycle.