Recycling Initiatives
Recycling Matters at BISD
The Board acknowledges that every effort should be made to conserve energy and natural resources. The Board believes that this commitment benefits students, employees, and taxpayers. Policy CL Local
- Look into our Past to Plan for our Future
- Goals & Objectives
- Promoting Recycling & Conservation (District Activities)
- Recycling Projects & Data
- Planting Projects & Data
- Resource Management Data & Conservation Goals
Look into our Past to Plan for our Future
In 2006, Texas House Bill 3693 was created to provide statutory requirements for energy efficiency in Texas. The bill also encouraged school districts to participate and establish goals in energy consumption and recognized the responsibility of Board members, administrators, staff, teachers, and students of the District.
BISD’s recycling program was initiated in September of 2009 through five grants awarded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in cooperation of the Lower Rio Grande Development Council. The grants were awarded for the purchase of:
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Education materials for Elementary Schools
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Education materials for Secondary Schools
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Bins and Containers
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Large Baler
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Garbage Truck
BISD Curriculum has implemented environmentally appropriate and responsible practices for students conducting investigations in Science at all grade levels, specifically in making informed choices in the conservation, disposal, and recycling of materials. TEKS process standards are followed by grade level and subject.
Currently BISD has three recycling initiatives:
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Commingled (single stream) recycling
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Dual stream recycling (reverse bid)
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Purchasing Recycled Products
Goals & Objectives
Raise awareness on the 3-R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
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Provide educational videos and/or advertisement promoting our district’s recycling program
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Sponsor Annual Art Contest (2023 flyer)
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Host Annual Earth Day Rally (2023 flyer)
Educate and train employees on BISD’s Recycling Program (Encourage participation in recycling and waste management.)
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Provide training to custodial staff as to the process to dispose trash and recyclable items
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Have campus/department designate a recycling “Champion” to help foster a sense of environmental responsibility
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Foster a competitive spirit by publicizing participation (weight, percentage, etc.)
Establish a commingled recycling program that is district-wide
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Place recycling containers to collect paper, cardboard, plastic, and tin at each district campus and administrative building by June 2021
Adopt new rules and incentives to reward those who embrace Recycling Matters at BISD
Involve the community through collaboration and partnerships to achieve Recycling Matters at BISD
Promoting Recycling & Conservation (District Activities)
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August 2023
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September 2023
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September 19-25, 2023
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October 2023
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Oct 6 - Besteiro MS & Aiken ES
Oct 13 - Brite ES
Oct 20 - Egly ES
Oct 26 - Gonzalez ES
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November 2023
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Nov 3 - Hudson ES
Nov 9 - Paredes ES
Nov 17 - Putegnat ES
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December 2023
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December 14, 2023
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January 2024
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January 26, 2024
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March 2024
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April 2024
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April 19, 2024
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May 2024
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May 19, 2024
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June 2024
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June 5, 2024
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Recycling Projects & Data
The District is committed to recycling the materials it uses and to minimizing non-hazardous waste. It will be the responsibility of every member of the District to support these efforts designed to protect the environment by conserving resources and preserving rapidly diminishing landfill space. Recycling is just one part of a much larger program of activities through which the District takes an increasingly active role to further understanding and preservation of the environment in the years to come. Policy CL
Recycling Matters
- Commingled Recycling
- Crayon Recycling
- Dual Stream Recycling
- Purchasing Recycled Products
- Recycling Resources
- Recycling Data
Commingled Recycling
BISD encompasses 95 square miles and is considered the largest school district in the Rio Grande Valley with 34 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 3 alternative schools and 7 high schools. When reviewing options to promote recycling and provide convenience, the best option for our campuses was commingled recycling. Commingled (single stream) is a method of recycling which allows paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal to be mixed together for pickup.
In November 2020, the BISD Board of Trustees approved the proposed commingled recycling initiative. Paper, cardboard, plastic and metal items can be recycled at all campuses and administrative buildings.
BISD Launches New Recycling Efforts
Informational Video
Crayon Recycling
Brownsville ISD, in collaboration with the City of Brownsville, initiated a crayon recycling program. Used unwanted (broken) crayons will be collected at every school and administrative building. Crayons will be melted into new shapes and recirculated back to the students.
- Over 100 million crayons are thrown out every year by more than 15,000 family-style restaurant chains across the U.S.
- 112 average crayons equal one pound of waste.
- Made from paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum, it can take years (even decades) for a crayon to decompose in a landfill.
- The average child wears down 720 crayons by his or her 10th birthday.
- March 31 is National Crayon Day
Source: Fun facts and a little recycling to celebrate National Crayon Day
Dual Stream Recycling
Dual Stream recycling is also referred to as source separated recycling. BISD has recycled single source items for several years. Paper and cardboard were recycled by the Food & Nutrition Services, Maintenance, Records Management and Transportation Departments have recycled paper, cardboard, and metal on separate containers.
Purchasing Recycled Products
Recycling Resources
Recycling Data
Natural Resources Saved
Commingled Recycling in Schools & Administrative Buildings:
- During the 20-21 school year, BISD recycled 338 tons or 676,845 lbs.
- During the 21-22 school year, BISD recycled 580 tons or 1,160,850 lbs.
- During the 22-23 school year, BISD recycled 546 tons or 1,092,850 lbs.
- As of August 31, 2023 (23-24 school year), BISD recycled 102 tons or 204,600 lbs.
Recycling broken crayons in Schools:
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During the 22-23 school year, BISD recycled 228.7 lbs.
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As of September 25, 2023 (23-24 school year), BISD recycled 344.6 lbs.
Planting Projects & Data
BISD recognizes the importance of planting trees and vegetable gardens.
Trees
Why it's important to plant trees?
2022-2023 School Year
The planting of trees at the BISD locations have been made possible thanks to the City of Brownsville, the Brownsville Beautification Committee and a $40,000 grant provided by One Tree Planted, whose mission is “to reforest our planet, provide education, awareness, and engagement on the importance of trees in our ecosystem, and to inspire action". Source : City of Brownsville to Host 23rd Annual Texas Arbor Day Celebration
One Tree Planted Grant
Schools
Trees
2023-2024 School Year
One Tree Planted Grant
Schools
Trees
School Gardens
Resource Management Data & Conservation Goals
Recognizing the responsibility of Board members, administrators, staff, teachers, and students of the District, the District is committed to making all reasonable physical, procedural, and behavioral efforts to conserve energy and natural resources, while also reducing the cost of educating District students. Recognizing that convenient natural resources such as coal, oil, gas, and water are being depleted, but yet are being faced with continuous increases in demand while becoming more expensive, the District must become proactive in conserving energy and reducing costs. Policy CL
The BISD Resource Management Dashboard was created to help students and staff monitor the resources used and track their environmental footprint.
What can you do to help reduce your carbon footprint?