About the Green Team Program

The Green Team program is an update to the Litter Free Schools program that was established in 2005. The Green Team program supports the Keep Prince George's County Beautiful initiative, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., and includes a broader focus of "green" initiatives, including recycling, clean up and beautification efforts, environmental education and energy conservation. It also supports state and county recycling mandates and the Maryland State Department of Education's new environmental literacy graduation requirements. It is the school system's goal to have all schools and offices part of the Green Team.

Joining the Green Team is easy! Click on the links below for more information.

• Green Team - How To Join 
• Green Team Registration Form 

Recycling in PGCPS

Through a partnership with PepsiCo and Waste Management, Prince George’s County public schools now have access to a new single-stream recycling program for plastic, aluminum and paper! The program is key in meeting state-mandated recycling requirements for Prince George’s County public schools that go into effect October 31, 2012.

Here are step-by-step directions for setting up recycling at your school (click here to download a flyer with this information): 

1. Establish a Green Team consisting of students, staff and volunteers. (Be sure to include a custodial staff person on your team.)
2. The Green Team develops a plan to get recyclables from classrooms, common areas and the cafeteria to the exterior recycling bin.
3. PepsiCo has received a list of schools in need of recycling services. If you haven’t been contacted, please visit www.DreamMachineRecycleRally.com to register your school in the Dream Machine program. This program has been structured based on the anticipation of active participation of beverage container (PET plastic bottles and aluminum cans) recycling at these schools in the range of one beverage container per child per school day, or 400+ lbs. of recycling a month.
4. PepsiCo will arrange for the delivery of your outside recycling bin through Waste Management and will send your school a scale and tracking materials for estimating the weight of your recycling materials. NOTE: to receive the free recycling services, schools MUST provide ongoing tracking data. PLEASE NOTE – this program is designed primarily for PET plastic beverage containers and aluminum cans. Space permitting in the Waste Management outdoor collection bin, you can also recycle your paper and plastic milk bottles.
5. Once you receive your outside bin, scale and tracking materials, start recycling! Schools using municipality single-stream recycling services should continue to do so. Schools using the Abibow Paper Retriever program may continue to do so as a paper solution, and use the Dream Machine for plastic and aluminum recycling. 

Specialty Item Recycling

Abibow Paper Retriever Program – Provides free paper recycling through the Paper Retriever program to schools in their service area (schools located on and north of Central Avenue) and provides a rebate to schools. Requires a minimum tonnage of paper to maintain the program. For more information, visit their website or call 1-800-874-1301.

Ink Jet and Toner Cartridges – Send via PONY mail to the William S. Schmidt Center

E-Waste (outdated/broken computers, printers, fax machines, etc.) – Contact PGCPS Supply Services at 301-808-8200 to arrange for pickup/transfer of electronic equipment for recycling.

Scrap Metal – Contact PGCPS Supply Services at 301-808-8200 to arrange for pickup/transfer of scrap metal for recycling.

Questions About Recycling?

If you have questions, please send an email to Brenda Allen, brenda.allen@pgcps.org, or Lynn McCawley, lmccawle@pgcps.org.
 

"Green" Contests and Awards

"Trees Are Terrific" Poster Contest for Fifth-Graders NEW!

The Maryland Forest Service, in partnership with the Maryland Forest Conservancy District Boards, is sponsoring a poster contest for 5th grade classes throughout the State of Maryland. The theme for the poster is: Trees Are Terrific….and Maryland Forests are Too! The deadline for submissions in March 27, 2013. For details, click here.

Apply for a 2013 KMB Award NEW!

Keep Maryland Beautiful (KMB) – one of the Maryland Environmental Trust's (MET) oldest and most successful programs – is sponsoring its annual KMB awards. Every year, the group awards grants to schools and community groups that have completed a project that supports, enhances or maintains the environment. The deadline for the KMB award is March 31, 2013. For details, download the flyer by clicking here.

Green Team Partners

Visit our partners' websites for "green" information and resources:

Click on the logo to find Tools for Teachers	Click on the logo to find resources on the Dream Machine Recycle Rally	Click on the logo to find resources for schools
Click on the logo to visit the DER website