As New York City students, educators and parents, we are very concerned about the lack of recycling in NYC schools. An alarming majority of our schools don\'t have recycling programs in place, and those that do aren\'t always recycling everything required by NYC law. The NYC Dept. of Sanitation\'s most reliable numbers show our schools generate around 50,000 tons of waste annually and only recycle 9.5% of it. With over one million students and 80,000 teachers in our 2,100 public and private schools, vast quantities of recyclable resources are being buried in dumps and burned in incinerators. Just try to imagine all the workbooks, paper, cardboard, milk cartons and other beverage containers produced daily. We have, and it\'s overwhelming and irresponsible. Schools play a central role in teaching and reinforcing the importance of waste reduction and recycling. Both are critical elements of a well-rounded education incorporating civic and environmental behaviors. Plus, effective school recycling programs encourage children to help recycle at home, ultimately raising residential recycling rates. This would contribute to the success of our City\'s Twenty Year Solid Waste Management Plan. We call upon you, the City of New York, the NYC Department of Education and the NYC Department of Sanitation to do everything in your power to establish and enforce workable recycling programs in every NYC school. Help us do right by our City\'s children. Help us recycle!

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