Information

REAP
Tina Cook
EFP - Planning
TUSD
2025 E. Winsett St.
Tucson, AZ
85719
Phone: (520) 225-4673
Fax: (520) 225-4939
EMAIL US

Home > Departments > REAP > Waste

Resource Efficiency Awareness Program

Reducing Solid Waste

Facts for 2008-2009

  • 1 cubic yard (CY) of trash or recycling equals approximately 250 pounds per CY.
  • The 2007 national average for per capita solid waste rates was approximately 4.54 lbs./person/day.
  • As we begin the FY 08-09 school year the average per capita solid waste rates for TUSD schools are:
    • Elementary Schools = 16.3 lbs./student/week
    • Middle Schools = 14.9 lbs./student/week
    • High Schools = 16.7 lbs./student/week
    • Alternative Education = 27.2 lbs./student/week
    • Exceptional Education = 38.5 lbs/student/week
  • The City of Tucson solid waste containers indicate the volume (CY) as the last numbers in the upper right corner of the front load commercial containers.

Waste Reduction at TUSD
TUSD has taken two main approaches to reducing the solid waste produced by schools and sites:

  • Implementing the Commingled Recycling for Schools Project
  • Careful monitoring of the amount of solid waste produced at district schools and facilities

Commingled Recycling for Schools Project
The Commingled Recycling for Schools Project was initiated by Tucson Unified School District to educate elementary schools how to actively participate in Tucson Recycles, the City of Tucson's commingled or single-stream recycling program.

Project objectives include to complete the following:

  1. Design presentations targeting school staff.
  2. Implement outreach campaign for additional elementary schools.
  3. Provide positive reinforcement for participating schools.
  4. Develop data tracking methodology for participating schools.
  5. Promote commingled recycling model for other Tucson and Arizona schools.

Posters and recycle bins are available by calling the REAP office, (520) 225-4673.

Monitoring
Carefully monitoring the amount of solid waste produces helps us to identify ways to reduce waste production.

More information about the waste produced at TUSD schools is available from the following document:

For classroom use, we have developed the Solid Waste Worksheet (PDF). Students can use this to calculate the impact of changing the solid waste stream at their school.