• CLUB News – Welcome New Member – Prospect Mountain H.S.
• CLUB Conference Update – Nominations Needed
• In The News – Compost Bin Fundraiser
• EPA News – Great Backyard Bird Count this Weekend
• Activity – Get Organized; Get Active
• Green Calendar

Click here to view PDF

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CLUB NEWS

 Welcome New CLUB Member!

The CLUB extends an enthusiastic WELCOME to new CLUB member, The Environmental Club of Prospect Mountain High School of Alton, NH – Home of the Timberwolves!

We hope to see your projects in future newsletters!

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NRRA Hosts Visit from

Hampton Recycling Education Committee

NRRA Programs Coordinator, Gwen Erley, hosted members of the Hampton Recycling Education Committee on January 14. Members Toni Trotzer, Tammy Deland, Corinne Baker and Norman Silberdick joined Gwen to discuss The CLUB’s workshops, technical assistance programs, and to review all the resources available on the CLUB’s webpage. Financial aid and fundraising options were also reviewed.
Hampton Transfer Station Coordinator Mark Richardson is a member of the NRRA Board of Trustees and met up with the group after his on-site meeting. After a brief tour, the group enjoyed a light lunch together.

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CONFERENCE NEWS

Surprise Entertainer set for Conference Awards Luncheon!

The School CLUB is very excited to announce that we have just confirmed an excellent environmental entertainer for the Awards Luncheon on June 9.  Details to come in the next newsletter.  Be sure to watch for conference registration details as well, you won’t want to miss this year’s fun filled School CLUB Conference!!

WANTED:  Your Award Nominations for the 6th Annual School Recycling Conference

The School Recycling CLUB’s 6th Annual Conference will be held at the Radisson in Manchester on June 9, 2015. This year’s theme is “Real Challenges-Real Solutions.”  Registration forms will be available shortly.

The CLUB is now accepting Award Nominations in a number of categories.  The awards will be presented at the 2015 Conference.  If you know of a worthy individual, school or group, please follow this link to the nomination form.  Deadline for nominations is April 1, 2015.

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Would you like to host a TOLD, Garbage Guerillas or another Workshop at your school? Let the CLUB Help!

• Improves academic performance, especially in science and math
• Can lead to financial savings for schools
• Decreases the school’s carbon footprint through practical solutions that reduce energy and water consumption
• Reduces school waste and conserves natural resources
• Encourages student environmental awareness and stewardship
• Increases parental involvement
• Helps students and teachers develop stronger relationships with their communities

Previous EPA EE-funded research at over 200 New England schools completed by the NRRA School Recycling CLUB (the CLUB) found that the single most challenging area for school recycling programs was in providing curriculum integrations that brought recycling and sustainability into classrooms to be used as the subject matter for meeting state and local curriculum standards.  The intention of the CLUB programs is to address just that issue in schools across all six New England states. Our goal is to use the CLUB’s workshops and technical assistance programs, all experiential and hands on, as a tool for educating K-12 students about consumption, proper diversion of waste, the resulting impacts on climate change and what they can do to change it.  Through these offerings, we are also afforded the opportunity to link these priorities to curriculum standards.  In addition, these workshops will model, for educators or community leaders, exemplary ways of teaching in creative, effective, and efficient methods about human health threats from environmental pollution as well as how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health. Click here to learn more or contact us at [email protected] or call 1.603.736.4401 ext. 19

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IN THE NEWS

NRRA Annual Compost Bin Sale – Register Now for this Great Fundraising Event

Is your school club or organization looking for a great fundraising idea that will also help the environment?  Northeast Resource Recovery Association is now accepting orders for our Annual Compost Bin Sale.  But Hurry!  We’re only taking orders for another month!

Did you know?
*In 2012, 27.6% of waste sent to landfills consisted of food and yard waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The use of backyard composting systems by residents can divert this waste and help residents benefit from fresh compost.

* It is also possible to conserve municipal water supplies and cut household water bills by up to 40% with backyard rain barrels. Rain water, free from chlorine and water treatment chemicals, is an excellent water source for lawns, plants and gardens.

Now is the time to do your part to help the environment. Participating in NRRA’s annual compost bin sale is a great way to do this! You can either do a straight sale or use this as a fundraiser for your group or organization.
It’s quick and easy. Just go to http://www.nrra.net/news/bins-barrels-info/

1. Download your participation packet (Compost Bin Sale Packet) and send us your participation form. Upon receipt, NRRA will send you a customized order form and poster that you can use to promote your sale.

2. Collect orders until March 13, 2015. Download group order form from the website and send to NRRA no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 13th.

3. Orders will be shipped directly to your group between April 13th and April 17th – in plenty of time to distribute for Earth Day!

Be sure to read the overview of the sale on the website for minimum order requirements, delivery and other important details about the sale.

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LAST CALL – COMPOSTING SCHOLARSHIP!

Composting Council Scholarship Deadline February 15

The goal of the CCREF Sustainable Student Scholarship Award is to award a $1,000 scholarship to encourage students interested in composting research. This helps recruit tomorrow’s generation of industry experts and researchers!

Who should apply:
High school seniors with a keen interest in the compost industry.

Requirements:
• Two letters of recommendation
• An essay outlining your experience with compost and how this impacts your choice of a major at a college or university
• Email your submission to:  Leanne Spaulding, Development Officer, Composting Council Research and Education Foundation

Here is the application form:  Apply for Scholarship

Thank you to the CCREF scholarship sponsor!

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EPA NEWS

Citizen Science is for the Birds?

02/09/2015 12:08 PM EST

Every year since 1998, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society have teamed up in mid-February to sponsor the Great Backyard Bird Count. It is recognized as “the first on-line citizen science project to collect data on wild birds.” Since 1998, more than 100,000 people have participated and reported on the birds they see in their areas. This year the bird count starts on Friday February 13th and continues through Monday February 16th. The rules are simple – after you register on-line at gbbc.birdcount.org, you just count the numbers and types of birds you see for 15 minutes, on one or more of the 4 days! There is a checklist on-line to use to report your results. It’s also a great website to use to help identify birds you don’t recognize.
In 2014, people from 135 countries participated and reported almost 4,300 species of birds as more than 144,000 checklists were received. The results of last year’s bird count are really interesting and can be seen at gbbc.birdcount.org/news/top-10-lists/.
My wife and I have participated in the bird count for the last 7 years and some of the more colorful birds we have counted in our backyard are shown below (all photos courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornothology):

Downy Woodpecker

Black-Capped Chickadee

Bluejay

Purple Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Northern Cardinal

Hope you can join us this weekend and if you can, Happy Birding!!!
About the Author: Kevin Kubik serves as the region’s Deputy Director for the Division of Environmental Science and Assessment out of EPA’s Edison Environmental Center. He has worked as a chemist for the Region for more than 32 years in the laboratory and in the quality assurance program.

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Apply Now for EPA’s Environmental Educator Award

Are you raising environmental literacy levels in your school? Are you inspiring members of your community to be environmental stewards?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Applications will be accepted through March 13, 2015.
This award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers who demonstrate leadership, service, innovation and achievement in environmental education (EE). Winning teachers will receive an award of up to $2,500 to further their professional development in EE. The teacher’s local education agency will also receive an award of up to $2,500 to fund EE activities and programs.
Learn from a previous winner’s path forward.
Apply at http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators.

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The Boston Red Sox recently wrapped up a new “green monster” in Fenway Park – a five-year plan that included the installation of enough solar panels to provide 37% of their energy.

For more on sports teams “going green,” go to: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2015/01/11-sports-teams-and-leagues-that-have-gone-green/

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EPA’s REDUCING WASTED FOOD & PACKAGING PILOT PROGRAM AND WEBINAR SERIES

EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Web Academy is hosting a free four-part webinar series to guide users through the waste assessment and reduction process presented in the Reducing Wasted Food & Packaging Toolkit. All are welcome to participate in the webinar series! The schedule and links to register are listed below.

“A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Food Waste Assessment with the Reducing Wasted Food & Packaging Toolkit”

Milestone 1: Preparing for a Food Waste Assessment and Establishing a Baseline
Thursday, January 29, 2015, 1:00pm—3:00pm EST – SORRY, ALREADY DONE.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/100000000064935147

Milestone 2: Data Analysis, Creating and Implementing Waste Reduction Strategies
Thursday, February 26, 2015, 1:00pm—3:00pm EST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/100000000064935179

Milestone 3: Tracking Progress
Thursday, March 26, 2015, 1:00pm—3:00pm EST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/100000000064935206

Milestone 4: Measuring Impact
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 1:00pm—3:00pm EST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/100000000064935220

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 Recognizing Food Recovery Challenge

and WasteWise Participants

EPA recognized the accomplishments of organizations and businesses participating in the Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise program for reducing their climate footprint, improving efficiency, helping communities, and achieving cost savings through waste reduction. These programs save money, protect the environment and feed the hungry.
In 2013, Food Recovery Challenge participants diverted more than 370,000 tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. WasteWise participants reported preventing and diverting a total of nearly 7.6 million tons of waste from being disposed in landfills or incinerators in 2013. Read about the participants here.

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ACTIVITY 

Getting Organized with Recycled Products

Here are some great tips to get yourself organized without spending a lot of money and by re-purposing some of your recycling:

Cords:

Use leftover paper tubes to label and organize your loose cords.

Shelves & Drawers:

Cereal boxes and checkbook boxes are an easy way to organize magazines, bookshelves and even that catch-all, the utility drawer.

Tubes and boxes can be decorated with washi tape, leftover gift wrap and/or ribbon.

Desktop:

Soup cans make great organizers for art supplies.

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Winter Bucket List

Our friends at the National Wildlife Federation have come up with “Ranger Rick’s Ultimate Winter Bucket List.”  This is a great list of 20 things you can do in the winter.

To print your own list, go to: http://www.nwf.org/pdf/Mazes%20and%20Games/RR_WINTER_BUCKETLIST_print.pdf

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GREEN CALENDAR

02/14/15 – Happy Valentine’s Day from The CLUB!

03/22/15 – World Water Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.unwater.org.

04/22/15 – Earth Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.earthday.org.

04/24/15 – Arbor Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.arborday.org.

06/05/15 – World Environment Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.unep.org.

06/08/15 – World Oceans Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.worldoceansday.org.

06/09/15 – NRRA School CLUB Conference – The conference within the conference celebrates schools and students with activities and awards. It will be held at the Radisson in Manchester, NH.  See our Conference page for details.  

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WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL CLUB UP TO? The NRRA School CLUB always loves to hear what its members and other schools are doing to recycle and help the environment so we can share it through our newsletter. There are so many different things being done, and you are our best source of information about what is working in your school. It can be a new program, a long-term project that’s been proven over time, a field trip, etc. Always feel free to contact me or submit something and you may see it in the next School News You Can Use! – Gwen Erley,  [email protected] 1.603.736.4401 ext 19