Click here to consult the roadmap for recycling at school.
Click here to consult the poster illustrating the steps for recycling in schools located in Northwerstern New Brunswick.
Paper and Cardboard Recycling
In September 2004, the NWRSC Solid Waste Service (formerly named COGERNO) extended its recycling program to schools located on the territory it serves. This new program allowed them to have access to an outside blue bin and containers for their classrooms and various rooms in order to recover fibrous materials (paper and cardboard).
Inside the school, the collection of recyclables is done by students sitting on the Environment Committee or by other participators such as the janitors.
The blue bin located outside is reserved exclusively for the school. The materials accumulated in these bins are picked up by the Solid Waste Service the same way as residential bins and sent to the local sorting centres. Afterwards, they are transported to recycling facilities to be transformed into new products.
Here are a few suggestions for optimizing the fibrous materials recycling program at school:
- Make sure that the recycling bins placed in the rooms are used exclusively for paper and cardboard recycling;
- At the beginning of the school year, take a few minutes to explain to students how the recycling program works in the school and which materials to deposit in the recycling bins and which materials not to (see list below);
- Make sure to place shredded paper in clear tough plastic bags (if the bag is too thin and brakes, the contaminated paper might not get recycled!);
- When in doubt, do not hesitate to contact the Solid Waste Service team at (506) 263-3470 or 1-800-561-0456.
Materials Accepted in the Schools’ Blue Bins
- Telephone directories
- Paper pads
- Corrugated cardboards (shipping boxes)
- Flat carboard boxes (cereal, spaghetti, cookie, facial tissue boxes, egg crates, etc.)
- File folders
- Flyers, advertisement inserts, catalogues, magazines
- Envelopes (with or without windows, with or without self-adhesive labels, but not the padded types)
- Newspapers
- Books (with or without hard cover)
- Letter, office, printer paper
- Paper bags
Preparation Steps
- Flatten cardboard boxes before depositing in recycling bins (saved space = reduced transportation = less pollution);
- Remove plastic handles and metal lids on cardboard boxes;
- Remove paper clips holding together packs of paper but it is not necessary to remove staplers.
Participating Schools
| School | Location |
| École Ernest-Lang | Saint-François |
| Centre d’Apprentissage du Haut-Madawaska | Clair |
| Cité des Jeunes A.-M.-Sormany | Edmundston |
| École Notre-Dame | Edmundston |
| Carrefour de la Jeunesse | Edmundston |
| Saint Mary’s Academy | Edmundston |
| École Régionale Saint-Basile | Saint-Basile |
| École Saint-Jacques | Saint-Jacques |
| École Saint-Joseph | Saint-Joseph |
| École Mgr-Matthieu-Mazerolle | Rivière-Verte |
| École Régionale Sainte-Anne | Sainte-Anne |
| École Grande-Rivière | Saint Leonard |
| École Mgr-Martin | Saint-Quentin |
| Polyvalente A.-J.-Savoie | Saint-Quentin |
| École Mgr-Lang | Drummond |
| École Régionale Saint-André | Saint-André |
| Élémentaire Sacré-Cœur | Grand-Sault |
| Polyvalente Thomas-Albert | Grand Falls |
| John Caldwell School | Grand Falls |
Plastic and Metal Recycling
If your school wants to start recycling non redeemable plastic and metal containers, please contact the NWRSC Solid Waste Service at (506) 263-3470 or 1-800-561-0456. We will help you launch this program in your school.
Redeemable Beverage Containers Recycling
The Solid Waste Service has offered to each school located on the territory it serves a certain amount of bottles used for the recycling of redeemable containers (juice containers, bottles, cans, etc.). Schools are responsible for their own recycling of redeemable containers. Sometimes, the Environment Committee of the school take it upon itself to collect containers and sell it as a fund raiser for the group.
Tip: To avoid fruit flies in the school, make sure to regularly empty and wash all bottles used for the redeemable container recycling program.
If your school needs another bottle for the recycling of redeemable containers, contact the Solid Waste Service at (506) 263-3470 or 1-800-561-0456.
Used Batteries Recycling
The Solid Waste Service has provided a green bin for used batteries collection to each school located on the territory it serves. The bin is located at the administrative offices, a central collection area. Some schools have placed reused containers in each classroom with the label Used batteries. This method increases significantly the amount of recycled batteries in the school.
On a regular basis, an employee from the Solid Waste Service collects the used batteries in each school. Please note that only the batteries deposited in the green bin at the administrative offices are collected by the employee.
If the green bin is full or you plan on organizing a large used batteries collection in the school, please inform the Solid Waste Service at (506) 263-3470 or 1-800-561-0456.
Ink Cartridges Recycling
The school is totally responsible for the recycling of ink cartridges.
Nevertheless, here are informations to help you in your initiatives in this type of recycling.
Usually, a system of prepaid envelopes is already set up with printer companies and other companies. If not, check with the retailer if they offer a cartridge recycling service.
The MIRA Foundation collects used ink cartridges. With the money collected from the sale of the cartridges to recycling industries, MIRA is able to provide guide dogs and service dogs to persons with mobility impairment. Click here for more information.
Most Staples stores also collect used ink cartridges and toners. Part of the money collected is redistributed to schools through the program Recycle for Education. Click here for more information.
Composting
Many schools in the North West have taken a step forward for the environment: they have started composting!
If this project interests you, the Solid Waste Service is there to help you set it up and to answer any questions you may have. A short training is available to help you be better prepared to undertake this project. A maximum of 2 composting systems (Earth Machines) are offered, free of charge, by the Solid Waste Service to schools wishing to take up composting. If the amount of organic materials exceeds the capacity of these systems, it is recommended that the schools take the next step, that is to build a wooden composting system with several compartments.
Some schools recover organic materials in the classrooms while others go further and compost fruit and vegetable scraps from the cafeteria. What nice gestures for the planet!
Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)
Several teachers have taken up worm composting with their students. This type of composting is done inside and consists in using small redworms for transforming fruit and vegetable scraps into a rich vermicompost, excellent for the plants.
If you wish to set up this project in your classroom, the Solid Waste Service is there to guide you. It offers a training for the teacher and the students. This presentation will give you all the necessary tools to start a worm composting project in your classroom. The worm composting system (Can-O-WormsTM) as well as the redworms are offered free of charge to classrooms interested in this project.