<< Think Inside the Bin

Step I: Identify Businesses to Recruit.

Within your school community there are two categories of businesses likely to participate in this program

1. Businesses owned or employing the parents of children attending your school
2. Neighboring businesses

Parent Businesses:
Use your parent association, school newsletter, or a special flier sent home with your students to invite parents to “adopt” your school for their business paper recycling. Remind them how they can help raise funds for your school simply by increasing paper recycling rates. Dropping off paper and cans is easily incorporated into routine trips to school, plus the parent's business receives all the incentives and recognition TIB offers.

Neighboring Businesses:
Who are your neighbors? What businesses already support your school? Businesses love to help schools because it is the right thing to do and because it is great for public relations. TIB provides recognition that a business is a partner to help your school raise money, in addition to advertising that they are promoters of environmental stewardship by recycling.

Step II: Recruiting the Business

As you talk with businesses about becoming a partner, follow these strategies:

• In addition to helping your school to fundraise, share with them that they may save on their trash bills by diverting all the paper waste to your bin. 
• Make it clear what can and cannot be accepted under the program.  Your business partner will need to be as careful as you are that only acceptable items are dropped in your bins.  Shredded paper is acceptable if it is in a closed plastic bag.
• If the business does not have a paper-recycling program in place, offer ideas about how to establish one.
• Let them know about TIB and how to receive those incentives:
• The business will need to complete an enrollment form.
• The form is to be mailed back to Saint Louis County Health Department of Health.
• Upon receipt of the form, the business will be mailed their certificate and window cling.
• The recycling bins will be shipped separately from a local storage and delivery facility.

Step III- Encourage Your Partner Businesses

Maximize your partnership to assure the business keeps feeding your recycling bins!  Some ideas include:

• Let the business know what you will be using your recycling money for and keep them informed of your progress.
• Offer to provide posters. Ask the art teachers if their students could draw posters for the business to encourage paper recycling.  The employees will love the artwork!
• Recognize the business for their participation. Invite a company representative to a school assembly, or put their name in a school newsletter.
• Advise them when the recycling companies are sponsoring contests and special promotions.

[Students] [Teachers] [Recycling Coordinators] [Visitors]

The Saint Louis County Resourceful Schools Project (RSP) is a collaboration between Cooperating School Districts and Saint Louis County Department of Health to support reducing, reusing and recycling in both schools and communities.