Educational Resources

2010/2011 School Grant Recipients

Allen County Solid Waste Management District
School Recycling Grant Program

Congratulation School Grant Recipients!
Thirteen Allen County schools have been awarded grants from the Allen County Solid Waste Management District for the 2010/2011 school year.  This grant program is designed to assist Allen County schools with funding to implement, support and/or enhance an active and sustainable recycling program.  The act of recycling creates awareness and provides students with the opportunity to be environmentally responsible.

The following schools are the 2010/2011 grant recipients:

  • Arlington Elementary (FWCS)
  • Canterbury School (Private)
  • Eel River Elementary (NACS)
  • Jefferson Middle School (FWCS)
  • Heritage Jr/Sr High School (EACS)
  • Hoagland Elementary School (EACS)
  • Leo Jr/Sr High School (EACS)
  • New Haven Middle School (EACS)
  • Park Hill Center (EACS)
  • St. John-Emmanuel Lutheran School (Private)
  • Towles Intermediate Montessori School (FWCS)
  • Woodlan Jr/Sr High School (EACS)
  • South Side High School (FWCS)

Purpose
Grants are awarded based on funds available. All eligible applicants that meet grant conditions will be considered for grant funding.  This is a “reimbursement grant” meaning that schools would first pay for the approved grant purchases and then submit documentation of these purchases to the District for reimbursement. The District cannot reimburse the individual, but rather the school.

Eligibility & Applicant Information
To be eligible for the school recycling grant, public and private schools must be located in Allen County, Indiana and be recognized by the Indiana Department of Education.  Colleges and Universities are encouraged to apply. 

Grant projects must be coordinated and administered by a classroom teacher, school administrator, student group advisor or parent organization.

Grantees must demonstrate the ability to purchase approved grant items for later reimbursement by the District.

Utilization of Funds
Some examples of how grant funds can be utilized include:

  • Curriculum, activity books, kits for educational and demonstration projects, library resource materials, and publications.
  • Recycling equipment & supplies including bins, totes, signage, scales and can crushers.
  • Promotional materials for recycling program: such as posters, flyers & banners.
  • Permanent educational materials pertaining to the recycling project: models & displays.
Grant funds can not be used for the following purposes:
  • Recycling collection services
  • Transportation costs
  • Personal expenses incurred

Application Deadline
Grant applications are now closed for the 2010/2011 school year.  

Application Process
Grant applications are evaluated by District staff based on the criteria listed below.  Applications with the highest score will be awarded grant funds. 

Grant Payments
  1. Reimbursement forms must be submitted to the District by May 1, 2011, approximately 9 months after receiving the signed award letter.
  2. The District will reimburse Grantees for approved grant expenditures once the completed reimbursement form and receipts are submitted.
  3. Reimbursement will be processed in thirty days of submitted documentation.

 Conditions of the Grant

  1. Only approved grant project expenditures will be reimbursed.
  2. The Grantee must deliver a School Recycling Report to the District by June lst or before the end of the 2010/2011 school year.  The School Recycling Report should be given or prepared by students and can include photos, video or a Power Point presentation.  The District reserves the right to use the School Recycling Report material to promote the grant, recycling and to recognize student efforts.  Action photos demonstrating student involvement, as well as comment and quotes are encouraged.  Only photos of students with picture consent forms signed by parents should be included with the report.
  3. Schools must maintain records for types and amounts of materials recycled in the School Recycling Report.
  4. Funded projects must be initiated within three months of the award or grant will be rescinded.
  5. If for any reason, the Districts funding source is eliminated, the District can terminate the program and only pay those costs incurred as of the date of the notice.
  6. Any institution receiving funds from the District, a government unit,may be subject to auditing compliance with State Board Accounts, per Indiana Open Door Law.
  7. The District requires notification should the grant facilitator change.
Forms
Application 
Application (pdf) 
Reimbursement Form
Recycling Report Form

Evaluation Criteria
All eligible applications submitted will be reviewed and evaluated for funding by the Allen County Solid Waste Management District staff.  The following criteria will be used:
  1. Applications with good organization and a well thought out plan will receive the highest consideration.  A complete description of proposed recycling program/activity and the materials to be purchased is imperative.
  2. Sustainability of the Recycling Program: Schools that demonstrate longevity of recycling programs will receive the highest consideration.  Applications need to include how recycling programs/activities will be implemented, promoted and maintained.
  3. Educational Impact:  Applications must show student involvement.  Recycling programs/activities that increase student awareness through participation will receive the highest consideration.
  4. Organization:  Applications must include the adult person(s) in charge of the grant program/activity.  Programs and activities that involve student organization and implementation will receive the highest consideration.

Timeline

January 30, 2010 Grant applications available to schools
June 30, 2010 Grant applications due (5 months to submit)
August 1, 2010 Award letters mailed (all that applied will be notified)
May 1, 2011 Reimbursement forms due (grantees have 9 months to spend money)
June 1, 2011 Recycling Report Due 

 Comments & Suggestions from Previous Grant Recipients

The most successful school recycling programs are student-based.

Continuously educate everyone in the school about the recycling program including students, teachers, and custodians.

Schedule a District presentation during teacher orientation to make staff aware of the recycling program(s).

Plan to continuously build your recycling program.  Start by recycling one commodity (i.e. paper) at a time and phase others in later.

Purchase materials locally when possible (i.e. books, promotional materials); however, few recycling containers can be purchased locally.  Instead, buy them on-line by doing a search for "school recycling containers." 

The Book List was helpful

It is best to start the recycling program at the beginning of the school year.

When recycling bottles and cans, purchase clear recycling containers so students can easily identify which recyclables go into which recycling containers.  

Get the students involved by initiating a contest (i.e. poster contest) or creating a school play.

Assign specific recycling duties according to grade level.  For example, the 3rd grade class collects paper from each classroom on Fridays.

Continue to create awareness by posting recycling information on school bulletin boards (i.e. what materials can be recycled, recycling accomplishments). 

Put paper recycling containers in all classrooms to clearly separate trash from recyclables. 

Label all recycling containers to avoid improper use (i.e. recycle plastics bottles #1 only).