Recycling contest for schools begins Nov. 15, ‘America Recycles Day’ – Morning Journal

Report on Lorain County’s Plastic Bag Recycling Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details a community recycling initiative launched by the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District. The program, a contest for local schools to collect plastic grocery bags, directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By promoting recycling, fostering environmental education, and encouraging community participation, the initiative serves as a practical model for local action contributing to global sustainability targets, particularly those concerning responsible consumption, sustainable communities, and environmental protection.

2.0 Initiative Overview

The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District has organized a competitive collection program to advance local recycling efforts and environmental stewardship.

• Objective: To maximize the collection and recycling of plastic grocery bags within the community.
• Timeline: The contest commences on November 15, recognized as America Recycles Day, and concludes at the end of the year.
• Participants: The primary participants are local schools within Lorain County. Community residents are also encouraged to contribute by dropping off bags at the Lorain County Collection Center (540 S. Abbe Road, Elyria) and designating their donation to a specific school district.
• Incentives: The top three collecting schools will be awarded prizes constructed from recycled plastic lumber, such as picnic tables, benches, or playground equipment. This demonstrates a tangible outcome of a circular economy.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative makes significant contributions to multiple SDGs through its design and intended outcomes.

1. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   The program’s core function is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. By diverting plastic bags from landfills and transforming them into durable goods (plastic lumber prizes), the initiative exemplifies the principles of a circular economy, reducing waste and promoting the reuse of materials.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   This initiative is a key component of creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities. The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District provides essential municipal services that improve waste management, a critical aspect of urban sustainability. The free collection center further supports this goal by making proper waste disposal accessible to all residents.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   By engaging schools directly, the contest serves as an educational tool. It raises awareness among students about the importance of recycling, environmental conservation, and their individual roles in achieving sustainability, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
4. SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land
   Plastic bags are a significant source of pollution that harms marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This collection drive directly mitigates this threat by preventing plastic waste from entering natural habitats, thereby protecting biodiversity both on land and in water.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   The success of the program relies on a multi-stakeholder partnership between a government entity (the Solid Waste District), educational institutions (local schools), and the public (county residents). This collaboration is essential for achieving sustainable development.

4.0 Broader Context and Impact

The Lorain County Commissioners’ official recognition of November 15 as America Recycles Day underscores the local government’s commitment to sustainability. The initiative is situated within a national context where municipal solid waste management is a significant economic and environmental factor.

• National Impact: Annually, 792 million tons of municipal solid waste are collected nationwide.
• Economic Contribution (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): The waste management sector provides substantial economic benefits, including 681,000 jobs, $27.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenue, demonstrating that sustainable practices can support economic vitality.

The contest is a strategic local action that addresses the global challenge of plastic waste while delivering educational, community, and environmental benefits, fully aligning with the ethos of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article highlights an initiative targeting “local schools” to participate in a plastic bag collection contest. This directly involves students and educational institutions in a practical activity related to environmental stewardship, contributing to education for sustainable development.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article explicitly mentions the economic impact of waste management, stating that the “collection of solid municipal waste provides 681,000 jobs, $27.8 billion in wages and $5.5 billion tax revenue,” linking recycling and waste management to job creation and economic contribution.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The entire initiative is a community-based effort within “Lorain County” to improve local waste management. By providing a “Lorain County Collection Center” and promoting recycling, the program aims to reduce the environmental impact of the community, making it more sustainable.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The core theme of the article is promoting recycling to manage waste. The contest to collect plastic bags and the celebration of “America Recycles Day” are direct actions aimed at reducing waste generation and encouraging sustainable consumption patterns among residents.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative described is a partnership between a public entity (the “Lorain County Solid Waste District”), public institutions (“local schools”), and civil society (“residents”). This collaboration is essential for the success of the community-wide recycling program.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

   By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article’s focus on organizing a plastic bag collection contest and operating a collection center for “household hazardous waste, electronics, paper… and recyclables” is a direct effort to improve municipal waste management in Lorain County.

2. Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

   By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. The article promotes recycling as “one of the simplest and most effective action we can take” and describes a contest to “collect the most plastic grocery bags,” which directly supports the goal of increasing recycling to reduce waste.

3. Target 4.7: Education for sustainable development

   By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The school contest is a form of education for sustainable development, as it engages students in a hands-on activity that teaches them the practical importance of recycling and environmental conservation.

4. Target 8.5: Full and productive employment and decent work for all

   The article supports this target by providing data on the economic benefits of the waste management sector. It states that the industry provides “681,000 jobs, $27.8 billion in wages,” demonstrating its role in creating employment.

5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective partnerships

   This target focuses on encouraging public, public-private, and civil society partnerships. The program is a clear example of such a partnership, involving the “Lorain County Solid Waste District” (public), “local schools” (public/civil society), and “residents” (civil society) working together towards a common sustainability goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator related to 11.6.1 (Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed)

   The article mentions a national figure that is a direct measure for this indicator: “Annually, 792 million tons of municipal solid waste is collected across the nation.” Locally, the success of the collection center and the contest could be measured by the total volume of plastic bags and other recyclables collected.

2. Indicator related to 12.5.1 (National recycling rate, tons of material recycled)

   The contest’s objective to “collect the most plastic grocery bags” implies a measurement of the tons of material recycled. The winning schools are determined by the quantity of bags collected, which serves as a direct, local-level indicator of recycling efforts for a specific material.

3. Indicator related to 8.5 (Employment and economic contribution)

   The article provides explicit quantitative data that serve as indicators for the economic contribution of the waste management sector. These include the “681,000 jobs,” “$27.8 billion in wages,” and “$5.5 billion tax revenue” generated by the industry.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: morningjournal.com