New Mexico Recycling Coalition

New Mexico Recycling Awareness Month (NMRAM) is a state-wide annual event created to promote recycling, waste reduction, composting and buying recycled products. It is held in conjunction with the nationwide America Recycles Day campaign on November 15th.

City of Albuquerque, Intel, Waste Management, Weyerhaeuser, Dex, Sandia National Laboratory, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, The Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau, Keep New Mexico Beautiful, Enchantment Electronic Recycling, Durango McKinley Paper Company, Guaranteed Recycling Xperts, Lamar Transit Ad Agency, Clear Channel, KOAT-TV, Citadel Radio, & Univision Radio

Once again we offer support to November Recycling Awareness events in schools and in communities. Events include municipal-sponsored recycling drives, public awareness events at malls and stores, and employee education in private business and federal facilities. Last year 62 communities and schools held an educational event at either a school or public arena in New Mexico.

November 3: Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful Community Recycling Drive, Barry Conant, 505-896-8729, bconant@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us

November 3: Lincoln County Solid Waste Authority, Ruidoso/Ruidoso Downs, Electronic Waste and Magazine Recycling Collection Event. Debra Ingle, 505-378-4697 or http://greenlincoln.org/?q=links

November 3, Gallup and McKinley Citizens Recycling Council will host a recycling drive. Contact Betsy Windisch at 505-488-5966, betsywindisch@yahoo.com

November 15, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, Education Booths and Recycling Drive on campus. Contact Art Lucero, 505-635-6091 or artl@nmsu.edu

November 15 - Silver City and Grant County Recycling Drive and Competition. Contact Terry Time, 575-534-4389, diannaterry@juno.com

November 15, 10:30 AM, America Recycles Day press conference with City of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, New Mexico Recycling Coalition and Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. Civic Plaza near city Hall in Albuquerque. Coincides with large-scale media campaign to raise awareness in Greater Albuquerque area including Rio Rancho, Los Ranchos and Bernalillo County. English Bird, 505-983-4470, english@recyclenewmexico.com

November: Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Office of Environmental Technical Assistance, outreach and recycling drives to state's 21 Native American tribes/pueblos, Will Trujillo, 505 455-1600, will_trujillo@yahoo.com

November: Santa Fe County, Recycling Drive and Launch of Expanded Drop-off Items for Recycling, Student Outreach, Rick Salopek, 505-992-1030, rsalopek@co.santa-fe.nm.us

November: Albuquerque Schools, Super Can Kid Contest, Annabell Gallegos, 505-761-8138, algallegos@cabq.gov

November: Roswell, Keep Roswell Beautiful Community Recycling Drive and School Education, Renee Roach, (505) 637-6293 cell: (505) 910-5154, roswellpr@cableone.net

November: Las Cruces, School outreach with City of Las Cruces and Keep Las Cruces Beautiful. Bonnie Tafoya, blt@las-cruces.org

November: Alamogordo, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful Community Recycling Drive, Cynthia Pierpont, (505)439-4250, cpierpoint@ci.alamogordo.nm.us

November: Santo Domingo Tribe, Recycling Drive and school education, Ventura Lovato, 505-465-0055, VLOVATO@SDUTILITIES.COM

Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque: Campus-wide education and awareness

Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College - Recycling Drive and awareness

1) PowerPoint on "Recycling and Sustainability". And excellent tool to present to elected officials, community leaders, neighborhood groups, and businesses. Presentation developed by New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau.

2) PowerPoint Recycling 101 for Community Members, which details the traditionally recycled items in any community, what it becomes after recycling, what it saves in energy and water usage, and other useful introductory concepts. Presentation developed by Navajo Nation Solid Waste Management Department.

1) Recycled-content give-aways generously provided by Dex: Rulers, Pen, Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners and Highlighters

5) America Recycling pledge cards (which will not be a sweepstakes with prizes this year). Find online at www.americarecycles.org

NMRC is in the process of planning a multi-media recycling awareness campaign aimed at the greater Albuquerque area, complete with in-town billboards, bus-sides, print, TV & radio advertisements and PSAs. The City of Albuquerque is a partner in this campaign and will help launch the city's goals to become a Zero Waste community. Rio Rancho is another partner community with Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful and awareness will reach into this community as well. Mayor Martin Chavez has agreed to be our spokesperson for our radio and TV PSAs.

Since 2004, we have worked directly with 130 K-12 schools throughout New Mexico, reaching more than 21,500 students! We have also awarded 25 schools with recycling bins to start their programs. Please note that the Recycling Bin Contest is not available this year. But look further down for the Keep New Mexico Beautiful grant program.

**E-mail one photograph of the chosen classroom art piece with a one-paragraph description with this information: 1) Title of Art Piece; 2) Materials Used to Construct 3) Student Name, Grade and School. E-mail to the New Mexico Recycling Coalition at english@recyclenewmexico.com by December 1, 2007 for consideration.

**Four winners will be selected in the following categories: 1) Pre-K to 2nd Grade; 2) 3rd grade to 6th grade 3) 7th - 9th grade and 4) 10th-12th grade.

**The four winning pieces will be exhibited in the Roundhouse in Santa Fe during the Legislative Session on a date TBA in January or February 2008 and a press release will be sent out to major papers and local papers where winner was selected from. Each winner will receive an art-related prize for use in their classroom. Please do not mail any art pieces or photographs to NMRC. We cannot be held responsible for items submitted in this fashion. Winning art pieces will then become property of Dex and will travel with their informational display booth.

**The art piece must be 75% recycled-content and created with materials that would have otherwise been thrown away in the garbage can. Use of recycled yellow-pages is encouraged!

In an effort to consider the principles of waste reduction and buying recycled in the school environment, we have developed a document with tips on buying products made from recycled-content and how to reduce waste in the classroom. Reducing Waste and Buying Recycled in Schools (.pdf). Also see more resources below on where to purchase recycled-content products.

There�s probably nothing more re-enforcing to students than to see or hear about the actual recycling process in their community and to have someone first-hand answer their questions. Contact your local solid waste division or recycling coordinator and ask them to visit your school or set up a visit to go to their recycling location. Or check off that part on the form, so we can call or e-mail you contact information for a recycling coordinator in your area.

Perhaps one of the most effective classroom projects involves examining school trash cans to see what is being produced. Schools typically see large amounts of paper and cardboard in their waste streams. You can create a percentage pie chart of trash �types� and figure out how much is actually recyclable.

Start your Recycling Collection Program with Cardboard Boxes from PNM

Free recycling boxes are available from PNM for use at events, schools, churches and nonprofit organizations. They can be used to collect daily recycling in buildings, or brought out for special events in your community. The boxes are 18" x 18" x 30". Go to www.PNM.com/environment and click on "Community Recycling Program".

New Mexico Environmental Essay and Art Contest

The Institute for Energy and Environment and WERC are hosting an Environmental Art Contest, with entries due on November 30th and an Environmental Essay Contest with a deadline of February 15, 2008. For more information check out www.werc.net under Outreach K-12 programs. If you have any question, please feel free to contact us at werc@nmsu.edu or call toll free 1-800-523-5996.

High Desert Worm Ranch, based in McIntosh New Mexico has released an educator's resource entitled "The Red Wriggler Teaching Manual". Manuals are available for $25 and target different study areas, from science, social studies, math and language arts. A complete educator's kit includes the manual, plastic bin, a 15-inch rubber worm, a brick of coir, a pound of worms and is sold for $65. www.redwrigglerranch.com or call 505-384-5302.

EPA Planet Protectors

Although included in school kits who register for NMRAM, if you want to order your own set independently. You will find a 10-month Planet Protectors Club Calendar Kit. The kit is designed to teach children in Grades K-3 the concepts of reducing, reusing, and recycling, waste.

The Planet Protectors Club Calendar Kit contains a large, full-color poster for teachers or group leaders. Smaller versions of the poster may be ordered for each student/child in the classroom or group, along with a set of stickers to track progress in completing the activities. Simple, step-by-step instructions and a list of materials are included for each activity; most of which take less than an hour to complete.

From turning trash into treasure to identifying environmentally harmful products in the home, these hands-on activities provide 10-months of fun and education.

To order the large poster (EPA530-H-06-004) and the child's version with stickers (EPA530-H-06-005), go to www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/ppcform.htm . You may also order by phone at 1-800-490-9198, by email at ncepimal@one.net , or by post mail addressed to U.S. EPA/NSCEP, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242-0419.

Go Green Initiative

The Go Green Initiative is a simple, comprehensive nationwide program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation. Founded in 2002, the Go Green Initiative unites parents, students, teachers and school administrators in an effort to make real and lasting changes in their campus communities that will protect children and the environment for years to come. Find out more online at www.gogreeninitiative.org .

Also, Keep New Mexico Beautiful has small Grants available for schools for the purchase of recycling bins. Visit www.knmb.org or call 800-760-5662.

Invite students to fill out Recycling Pledge Cards, committing them and hopefully their families to buy recycled products and improve their recycling efforts. We ask that you print your own pledge cards. This year will not be oriented as a contest, but simply as a commitment to make a difference by recycling! You can find easy-to-follow directions for doing this on the America Recycles website at www.americarecyclesday.org

You can also request a �Backyard Composting Made Easy� guide created by the New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau. Any school can create a compost bin for a science project, garden complement, or to compost cafeteria food scraps on a large scale. Contact Greg Baker at the following number or e-mail below. Or go online to www.recyclenewmexico.com/nmoro.htm to find an electronic version in English and Spanish.

Cash For Cans

Hold a recycling drive for cans in your school to raise funds. On this site, you can download a teacher's resource called "The Recycling Loop". Go to www.cancentral.com to learn more.

TerraCycle & Honest Kids� Drink Pouch Brigade

Every year millions of drink pouches end up in garbage and landfills. TFind out about a recycling program for these type of packages that can earn your school money. http://www.terracycle.net/dpb/

What is the 2007 Governor�s Challenge? The Governor�s Challenge is a call to action for all New Mexicans to recognize that we have a joint responsibility to keep New Mexico Clean and Beautiful. The 2007 Governor�s Challenge will run through spring 2008 and will culminate in a gala event to be held in Santa Fe. The Governor�s Challenge will consist of 3 major statewide events � the School Litter-ary Awards targeted at 8^th grade students and younger; the �Talk Trash with the Guv� MySpace and YouTube Competition targeted at young adults between the ages of 15 -26 and the Pickup Olympics targeted at businesses, non-profits, communities and service organizations throughout the state.

The Pick Up Olympics �where any group, family, non-profit, business, school, or community can arrange a clean-up event. Take pictures and submit a write-up on the event and you�ll have the chance to win prizes as well as get recognition from the Governor. Winners will be awarded a silver, gold or bronze medal and will be recognized at the gala event next spring and on the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful website.

The Litter-Ary Awards � for children �kids can create an event, or write a poem, or create a blog, or design a poster � all to encourage friends, fellow students and/or family to do their part to clean up the state. Each entrant (can be an individual, class, or entire school) will be asked to write an essay about what they did to clean up New Mexico and submit it, prizes will be awarded to the winner. Schools may plan projects at any time between now and spring 2008.

Talk Trash with the Gov � for young adults �where they write poetry, create a video, a blog, a website, a song, artwork with an anti-litter message, or an idea they want to share. They could win a chance to record professionally for the 2008 Litter Campaign. A Talk Trash with the Gov MySpace page has been launched and contains all contest rules and other information, http://www.myspace.com/talktrashwiththegov.

For more detailed information and documents to download about these new challenges please visit www.nmcleanandbeautiful.org and click on the blue button �Governor�s Challenge.�

We hope you�ll get involved and also pass along this exciting information to get other people involved with keeping our state clean.

Office Depot (Offers online catalog, carries paper/office products that have recycled-content - they will deliver free with minimum purchase anywhere in NM!)

Staples (Offers online catalog with recycled-content products. Also accepts computers, printers, digital cameras, cell phones, cartridges and rechargeable batteries for recycling)

NM Environment Dept.

Solid Waste Bureau

Educators Recycling Kit

Each school and state coordinator received an �Educator�s Recycling Kit�, which is comprised of a PowerPoint presentation called �Talkin� Trash�, which is specifically aimed at elementary-aged students with New Mexico data. The kits had a CD and print-out to work from. We also created an abbreviated booklet of Keep America Beautiful�s �Waste in Place� Elementary Curriculum Guide with a focus on recycling and composting lesson plans, definitions and activities. We added some EPA recycling and waste reduction pamphlets this year. We also added this year High School Recycling Activities that we compiled, as well as some hands-on art projects creating recycled insects and making projects out of newspaper. All coordinators received a New Mexico-focused �Reduce Waste and Reuse in the Schools� flyer with tips on how to reduce and reuse. We invited ALL schools in NM to participate.

Recycling Bin Contest

Although the focus of America Recycles Day is to promote buy recycled initiatives, New Mexico is so far behind the recycling curve that we maintain a focus on simply getting people and kids inspired to recycle in the first place. We have received great participation from the schools in past years and have heard over and over again about schools wanting to start recycling, but no money to purchase the bins. So we decided to create a Recycling Bin Contest aimed at the schools. We received 21 applications and we awarded bins to 12 schools (providing all bins requested in order to start an appropriate program). The schools were located around the state from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, El Prado, Farmington and Sandia Park.. Each school was required to layout their complete recycling program plan, down to who will collect in school, how will recycleables be transported to recycling center, do all teachers, principal and janitorial staff know about project, etc.

Press Outreach

In concert with our partner, the New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau, we sent a press release to all radio and print channels in the state. We also mailed a press kit with a 30-second recycling PSA to every radio station in the state.

Coordinator Give-Aways

We printed 650 T-shirts to include in coordinator and school packets as give-aways. The recycled-content shirt had a simple NMRC logo on the chest with the statement �New Mexico Recycles�. This complemented the America Recycled Day-provided recycled-content posters. We were also supplied with Dex yellow pages recycled-content rulers to distribute as well.

We raised $7,725 and received generous in-kind donations from the NM Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau for recycled T-shirt printing, package mailings to coordinators, radio PSA kits, and letter mailings to all NM schools. The 2006 NMRAM event focused its spending power on purchasing Recycling Bins to school winners in our contest. We spent a little more than $3,000 in purchasing the bins, shipping, stickers and coordination time to facilitate this.

Sponsors included: NM Recycling Coalition, NMED: Solid Waste Bureau, Weyerhaeuser, Dex, Intel, Sandia National Laboratories, and Keep New Mexico Beautiful.

On November 4^th, Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful sponsored a recycling collection event at their local Wal-Mart store. 173 vehicles participated. Community volunteers manned the event, while individual recycling agencies were on-hand to collect the recyclable items.

Master Fibers � 1480 lbs of cardboard, 263 lbs of paper, 65 lbs of plastics and 237 lbs of metals

Each resident of Rio Rancho also received their �Reduce, Reuse, Recycle� Guide. Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful provided a Waste in Place training for students and teachers on November 15^th at Vista Grande Elementary School, reaching 92 students and 17 teachers. KRRB also visited Martin Luther King Elementary School to discuss reduce, reuse and recycling concepts.

The Lincoln County Solid Waste Authority worked with a concert of volunteers and the local chamber of commerce to hold an electronics recycling event on November 4^th in Ruidoso. Almost 150 vehicles brought in 45,000 lbs of scrap electronics for recycling. The event was sponsored by the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce, LCSWA, Keep Ruidoso Beautiful, IGA and EEM Scrap. Collected cell phones were diverted to the local HEAL program and numerous toner cartridges were given to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to be used as a fund raiser. Additional support for the activity was provided by Pizza Hut and Ruidoso Ice Company. Lincoln County residents who were unable to participate in Saturday�s event may still drop off e-waste at the LCSWA yard through Friday November 10 at no cost. The significance of this event is Ruidoso and Lincoln County primarily serve a rural region.

Moriah and her Brownie Troop live in Des Moines, New Mexico, that has a listed population of 177 residents. They set about reaching out to the residents in their community to talk about recycling and they collected 86 pledge cards. That is almost 50% of their community pledging to recycle, reduce and reuse.

2007 New Mexico Recycling Awareness Month