|
|
|
|
How is it that eating lunch on a foam plate can allow public schools to employ more teachers, help the environment, and create a job for a special need individual?
|
Evergreen Partnering Group (EPG) has set up recycling programs at public schools across the country. EPG recycles the used foam food service ware from cafeterias, which are in turn made into new environmentally friendly products and sold back to the schools. The program which operates in Boston MA, Providence RI, Atlanta GA and Pasco County FL (Tampa);
(1) Saves public schools thousands of dollars in waste disposal costs: Schools typically can save many thousands of dollars in cost avoidance - - money that can be used to for teacher salaries, books, school activities and other necessities. For an average size system of 200 schools, the school system can avoid roughly 10,000 dumpster pulls per year.
(2) Benefits the environment by preventing trash from being sent to landfills. A school system can eliminate up to 40% of their trash by recycling used service ware trays, depending on their usage. For the same size 200 schools, they can avoid over 1000 truck loads being sent to the landfills per year.
(3) Provides student life experiences and creates local jobs; The program is designed to provide opportunities for students to participate in the facility, gain valuable work experience and learn first hand about the value of recycling. The program also supports the local community by providing inner city jobs and employing special needs students.
How does the program work?
EPG offers a patented closed-loop process specifically designed for processing polystyrene foam from school and institutional cafeterias. Under this closed loop process, used polystyrene is recovered at the schools, washed and re-pelletized into food grade polystyrene resin. The recycled resin is blended with virgin resin to produce a “Poly-Sty-Recycle” material that is used by designated partnering manufacturers to produce new food service products. These environmentally friendly products are sold back to the participating schools and institutions to complete the closed loop, in addition to other food service end users. EPG is the only firm in the country that currently offers this unique closed loop recycling program and has approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use of the recycled resin in new food service products.
How long have you been in business?
EGP has been involved in the recycling of used polystyrene foam from school cafeterias since 2002 beginning with our partnership with the Boston, MA Public School System. In 2003, EPG partnered with the Providence Rhode Island Public School System. In March 2006, EPG expanded its polystyrene recycling program to Atlanta Georgia and is accepting material as far away as Pasco County in Tampa Florida.
|
|
For more information, please contact
Michael Forrestat Mforrest@evergreenpartnering.com or call 978-764-4159. EPG can provide estimates of your waste disposal cost savings.
|
|
EPG History
|
|
|
