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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
20 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEWIDE IN ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE CAMPUS RECYCLING POLICIES.
WHEREAS, according to Edutopia and the George Lucas Educational Foundation, many students and teachers across the nation are actively involved in Earth-friendly ventures, and for many schools, the recycling program is first on the agenda; and
WHEREAS, in some places, however, recycling is still very difficult to do, or even unheard of, and Edutopia is currently conducting a poll on the status of recycling programs in America's schools, including what can be done to increase their size and scope; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, every ton of paper recycled would save enough energy to power the average American home for six months, save seven thousand gallons of water, save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent; and
WHEREAS, recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a sixty watt bulb for up to six hours, and recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space; and
WHEREAS, according to RecycleNow Schools, in a 2007 study in England, on average, primary schools generated forty-five kilograms (about ninety-nine pounds) of waste per pupil per academic year, and secondary schools, twenty-two kilograms (forty-nine pounds) per pupil per academic year, primarily food and paper waste; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, recycling reduces the amount of energy used to make materials and products, which in turn drastically reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, according to Education World, schools that have implemented recycling programs have saved the school and school district money, by avoiding unnecessary disposal costs; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to assist public schools statewide in adopting and implementing comprehensive campus recycling policies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to convene and provide administrative support for a youth task force comprising high school students to propose ideas and develop recommendations to be considered by the Department in the establishment of campus recycling policies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011 on the:
(1) Status of campus recycling policies statewide;
(2) Proposed additional or revised recycling options;
(3) Anticipated costs associated with the additional or revised options;
(4) Anticipated savings or revenues generated through campus recycling and provide a recommendation on how the revenues generated through campus recycling are to be remitted to the Department of Education for deposit to the credit of programs that fund K-12 education; and
(5) Names and respective schools of the appointees to the youth task force; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and all public school principals.
Public Schools; Recycling; Keiki Caucus