Press Release

“Unfortunately, school supplies can translate to mounds of waste in the form of packaging and result in wasted resources when new materials are manufactured from scratch,” said Mike Smith, Market Area General Manager for Waste Management of Ventura County. “Parents can use the back-to-school time to teach their kids about the impact they have on the environment and help them learn how to make environmentally-friendly decisions.”

Getting kids to be environmentally conscious at a young age is important given that it is estimated that each student produces up to 240 pounds of waste a year. When you consider the nearly 75.5 million students who attend school in the United States, the impact on the environment is exponential.

Here’s a few “Back to School” eco-friendly suggestions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

• Choose and use a wide assortment of products made from recycled products, such as pencils made from old blue jeans; binders made from old shipping boxes; and many types of recycled paper products. You can also reuse items like refillable pens, rechargeable batteries, and scrap paper for notes. Using recycled-content and reusing supplies prevents waste and saves you money.
• Use and maintain durable products. Sturdy backpacks and notebooks can be reused for many years, which helps reduce the amount of broken items tossed away each year.
• If you bring your lunch to school, package it in reusable containers instead of disposable ones, and carry them in a reusable plastic or cloth bag, or lunch box. Bring drinks in a thermos instead of disposable bottles or cartons.
• Kids are more tech-savvy than ever, but they need to learn that all electronics need to be disposed of in a safe and environmentally manner because it contains hazardous substances. By calling Waste Management/GI Industries at (805) 522-9400 residents can bring unwanted electronics to assist you with recycling it in a safe manner. Or recycle with Free’N Exchange, a new program provided by Greenopolis, an online marketplace designed to help reduce waste and connect users with others in need of everyday items.

To further promote environmental awareness, Waste Management invites parents, students and local residents to the Simi Valley Landfill & Recycling Center for an educational tour. Visiting the landfill in person is the best way to get a complete understanding of what happens when your trash and recycling are removed from the containers you put out at the curb. The tours highlight the importance of waste reduction and protecting the environment. To schedule a tour, please contact Lisa Hemenway at (805) 581-1746.