Oakland Schools' Recycling Program Earns High Marks

OAKLAND (KCBS) - Oakland Unified School District officials are making strides in cutting down on waste and they're recognizing their custodians' role in the school's recycling efforts.

The school district recycles 41 percent of their waste, but while he says that's great Assistant Superintendant Tim White says the goal is to get that figure up to 75 percent.

"The 41 percent has been basically generated by the leadership of our custodial services," said White.

White was proud to add that recycling saves the district about $50,000 a month in waste services costs.

Roland Broach, the district's director of custodial services, who's been employed with the district for 20 years, says his department is up to Superintendant White's challenge and has even started giving out Green Glove awards this year.

"A lot of times, custodians don't feel appreciated and it's very important to show that," said Broach. He added that if there are schools that don't recycle, that there are programs in place aimed at successfully reducing trash in Alameda County, such as Stopwaste.org.

Broach has seen a lot of garbage hauled away after lunchtime, but since recycling efforts have been stepped up in the past couple of years that campuses are now committed to staying clean and green.

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