How many schools recycle in Hamilton County?
Recycling Assistance Program 2009 Update

How many schools recycle in Hamilton County? What schools have the best programs? The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District (District) gets questions such as these repeatedly from political leaders, state environmental organizations, concerned residents, teachers, and parents. To provide accurate answers And to help schools start recycling programs, the District started the Recycling Assistance Program (RAP) in 2005.

Recycling coordinators are trained and asked to submit an individual recycling plan for their school. To date, more than 175 schools (out of 350 in Hamilton County) have contacted the District for assistance and the District has met with over 90 school recycling coordinators. Since the beginning of the program, 56 schools have completed the registration process so we know they have an efficient and sustainable program. Schools who register with RAP take advantage of the extensive support of the District, including free recycling containers, classroom presentations, school assemblies, field trips, student incentives, grants, training and lesson plans.

Each year, schools are asked to update their RAP plan. Why bother to update? Updates are needed to address when new recyclable materials are added for collection, when recycling options change, when a facility moves or is dealing with "swing space" issues, when there are changes in staff or enrollment, or when improvements and new ideas related to the education or marketing efforts are added.

The following schools are currently registered (i.e., newly registered or updated their recycling plan during the 2008-2009 school year). These schools are eligible to win tickets to a Reds game at Great American Ball Park in the Hamilton County Suite.

• Allison Elementary
• Amity Elementary
• Ayer Elementary
• Bethany School
• Blue Ash Elementary School
• Bond Hill Academy
• Bridgetown Middle School
• Carson School
• Chase School
• Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy - Armleder
• Elmwood Place Elementary
• Frost Elementary
• Goodman Elementary
• Hartwell School
• Hays-Porter School
• Heritage Hill Elementary School
• Holy Family School
• Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Josie Becker Elementary School
• Kilgour School
• Madeira Middle School
• Monfort Heights Elementary
• Mother of Mercy High School
• Mt. Airy School
• Our Lady of Victory
• Pleasant Ridge Montessori
• Purcell Marian High School
• Reading Central Elementary
• Reading Hilltop Elementary School
• Rees E. Price Academy
• Resurrection School
• Roll Hill Academy
• School for Creative and Performing Arts
• St. Aloysius Gonzaga
• St. Francis de Sales School
• St. Teresa of Avila
• Symmes Elementary
• Westwood Elementary School
• Winton Woods Primary South

If your school is already registered with the RAP and is not on this list, please contact us to update your plan. Recycling coordinators registered or updated by April 27, 2009 will be eligible for the Reds ticket drawing on May 1, 2009 and will be for the Wednesday, July 1st game, when the Cincinnati Reds play the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:10 p.m. Please confirm if the program still exists and if you will implement the same plan, or let us know if you will be making any modifications or any other program enhancements. For more information about the District’s RAP, including registration forms, visit www.hcdoes.org/SWMD/Schools/Schools.html or call Keebler Holley at (513) 946-7736.

Congratulations to last year’s School Recycling Coordinator ticket winners Angie Okuda (Pleasant Ridge Elementary), Suzanne Dewel-Glassmeyer (J.F Dulles Elementary), and Amy Morsch (McNicholas High School)!