St. Monica Church Does it Right!
St. Monica Church in Garfield Heights, Ohio is a great example of how to be successful Paper Retrievers. From their first paper pick up in November of 2005 (generating 3.78 tons) to this month, the church and school have diverted 54,932 cubic feet of paper from the landfill. The location now touts 6 bins. Some of their Secrets for Success:
o Bins are placed in very visible locations
o The area around each bin is maintained during snow season (that way paper can be dropped off easily and safely)
o Paper is collected from the homes of the congregation's senior citizens
o Paper is collected from area businesses
o Everyone at the church and school is engaged in the program
The people of St. Monica Church have raised thousands of dollars for the church and school – without ever asking for a penny.

Bin to School

College Wood Elementary and The Great Paper Drive College Wood Elementary in Carmel, Indianapolis held quite a recyclable paper drive in November. Their PTO President worked with her Paper Retriever Representative, Stacey Boggs, and developed a competition. The classes went toe-to-toe for 2-1/2 weeks bringing in over 5-1/2 tons of paper! The winning class won Super Recycler Ribbons, stickers and a popcorn party. Your Paper Retriever Representative has lots of ideas and tools to help you increase your tonnage and is just a call away. Forest Ridge Academy Picks Up Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville, Indiana "preaches green." Fourth Grade Teacher and Recycling Coordinator Brian Waddle says that the entire school knows that Friday is Recycling Day. Besides students bringing paper from home, they also staff a "Drive Through Drop Off" at the bins. Parents and other community members drive in and the students help them unload paper from their cars and put it in the bins. (Pictured here is a student who helped on Friday, October 31st.) Their Paper Retriever bins are mentioned in every weekly newsletter; every quarter they have a contest with a party as the prize for the winning class. ECO Dawgs Promote Six Paper Retriever Bins Butler University in Indianapolis, home of the Bulldogs (or Dawgs) is also home of the ECO Dawgs. This is a committee dedicated to promoting the campus community's wise use of our planet's resources. The 35 members have worked to increase recycling stations around campus, participate in new student orientation and compete in Recyclemania. To learn more about these Dawgs click here. America Recycles Day at Martinez Middle School November 15, 2008 A. Vito Martinez Middle School in Romeoville, Illinois (near Chicago) held their first America Recycles Day event.They collected 2 tons of recyclable paper for their Paper Retriever bins and many other recyclable articles including 51 cell phones that will be distributed to soldiers. How did they do it? They invited their entire community to come by and drop off items, secured sponsors for raffle prizes, invited local green companies to exhibit and asked a Girl Scouttroop to give a Recycling Mini Class. St. Peter's School is a Towering Success St. Peter's School in Lewiston, New York just held a 'Tis the Season Catalog Tower Contest. If they had stacked all the towers together one on top of the other, it would have reached the height of a 28-story building! The class that collected the most catalogs was the Pre-K class who celebrated with a Winners Pizza Party. The school held a congratulatory assembly for them when the contest ended.

Bin Around Town

Trains, Depots and Paper Recycling South Dayton, New York, is the site of a historic train depot (built in 1875) and Paper Retriever is helping to fund its restoration. So far the South Dayton Depot Fund has collected over $900 from their many green and yellow bins, and more funds are on the way. This depot was featured in Robert Redford's "The Natural."

It Takes a Posse to Round Up This Much Paper The largest Paper Retriever account in the United States is the Sun Lakes Sheriff's Posse, a nonprofit law enforcement service organization. Funded 95% by donations, their Paper Retriever program is very important to them. Their MONTHLY average is 75 tons of paper collected! With the money generated the posse purchases items including officer uniforms, prowl cars and medical supplies. They market their program through regular newspaper mentions, public access TV announcements and direct mailings. Paper Retriever lessens the impact on local landfills and through the posse, helps keep Sun Lakes safe.

Never Too Young to Recycle

Bin Getting With The Program

Attend Your Next Recognition Event

Growing Your Tonnage with Limited Real Estate
If your group is land-locked and doesn't have space for one more bin, approach area businesses. Ask them to host a bin on their property with the proceeds going to your group. For example, Beaver County (PA) Humane Society is the recipient of Paper Retriever funds generated by paper that was collected away from their property. NOVA Chemicals, Inc. and other local businesses support the shelter this way. (Pictured is the NOVA Environmental Subcommittee with their latest donation.) An added benefit is the relationship you'll create between your group and the businesses.
 

Make April Special
Start Planning an April Paper Recycling Event now! Add to your tonnage as you add to your group's fun.

Earth Day--- April 22
Arbor Day --- April 24
Global Youth Services Days --- April 24 - 26

Visit the Paper Retriever website for activity ideas and helpful tools and information.

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