Nipher Middle School – Recycling Leader of the Pack

Recycling at School - School Recycling Success Stories

January 2010

“Green Belongs at Nipher” is the catch phrase used at Nipher Middle School to educate students about reducing, reusing and recycling.  Last spring Robert Dillon, Assistant Principal of Nipher Middle, put the phrase to the test.  He worked to implement a Single Stream Recycling program within his school as a pilot.  He hoped to demonstrate that they could conveniently recycle a variety of materials at school while reducing the amount of trash sent to the landfill.  “We also wanted to make recycling an issue that moved closer to center stage,” said Dillon.

Robert Dillon spoke with administrators, custodians, office personnel and student recyclers to devise a plan.  He contacted QRS Recycling to see what they had to offer.  All parties involved believed in the idea and as the program was put into place, they saw the benefits.

Education consists of signs, video announcements and fliers.  Although the original energy of the program admittedly died down after a few months, they are still recycling at Nipher.  In fact, ideas to pump up participation have been considered, including adding outside recycling bins for those participating in extra-curricular activities.

We have yet to see if the plan to reduce trash pick-ups by adding recycling offset the costs, but the shift in thinking seen in the students makes it all worthwhile.  “It may be a very little impact on the environment but it’s making Kirkwood a better place.  So we know that we’re helping Kirkwood and we’re very happy,” is what Dustin Smith, 7th grader, had to say when asked about the new recycling program.

Nipher’s student recyclers play a big role in the program.  The students were responsible for bringing the recycling opportunity to the attention of the principals.  Led by science teacher Wayne Baldwin, the students empty recycling bins from every classroom in the school two times a week.

Nipher Middle School is not the first school to start Single Stream Recycling in Saint Louis County, nor will they be the last.  Beginning in January 2008, Rockwood School District started a comprehensive recycling pilot program where they collected all types of recyclable materials within their schools.  The program went district-wide after their initial run proved to be a success.