R 250

2017 -- H 6222 Enacted 05/16/2017

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS TO MAXIMIZE RECYCLING EFFORTS AT RHODE ISLAND'S SCHOOLS

Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Serpa, Kennedy, and Fellela

Date Introduced: May 16, 2017

WHEREAS, Each day, Americans throw away approximately 200 million tons of

garbage, with paper taking up as much as 50 percent of our landfill space; and

WHEREAS, Since school waste is generally almost 80 percent recyclable, schools can

make a huge impact when they recycle; and

WHEREAS, School districts and educators should serve as positive role models to

students and the community concerning environmental issues and sustainable environmental

practices; and

WHEREAS, By educating and engaging students to recycle more of the right things the

right way, whether at home or at school, our schools can help make recycling more economically

viable for our municipalities, thereby generating environmental and community benefits; and

WHEREAS, In addition, school district source reduction and recycling programs will

foster student achievement by transforming the school environment into a laboratory for learning

by providing numerous opportunities for investigation through environmentally based education;

and

WHEREAS, By establishing and maintaining a recycling program in all classrooms,

administrative offices, and other areas owned or leased by the school district and designating a

team or classroom to make sure that all recyclables collected during the previous week are placed

in the proper receptacles and available for pick-up on Friday, our school districts can educate the

next generation on the value of caring for their community, their environment and their future;

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby encourages all K-12 schools to

unite around the common goal of improving their recycling and waste reduction programs, and

activating student engagement in this positive and relevant change for our state and our world;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Commissioner of Education

and the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees.

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