1. Reduction of Level of Service
If your initiative results in a reduction of level of the service or just reduction of trash collection at your school, you may be able to share (50%) in the cost savings that result.  To qualify for shared savings you need to establish a baseline for a past year's service.  Once you have begun your project, you need to see if it has resulted in a reduced volume of trash going into the school dumpsters.  If that reduction enables a reduction in the level of service (less pickup times, or smaller dumpster), then a savings to the school district will result. Your school already has special collection bins for office paper and cardboard, but they may not be fully used.  Your efforts to get more paper and cardboard into the right bin may help reduce the level of service for trash collection (which is a much higher cost). 

To document savings, use the 1999 calendar year and compare that to this year's (2001) costs.  Shared savings on reduced level of service is similar to the shared energy savings procedure.  Information on trash collection costs for your school is available at the Energy Management Office. 

2. Direct Reimbursement
This is the most popular method used to gain monetary compensation for recycling efforts.  You may already have someone at your school collecting cans and turning them in directly for cash to a local recycling company.  Some companies also take other materials such as tin.  Below is a list of local companies that you can call to see what they will take and how much they will pay.  Currently, aluminum cans are just about the only material that you would find at home or school being bought by recycle companies.  You will have to provide transport of the materials to their location. 

4. Other Opportunities
The Green School Project pays schools for empty printer, fax, and copier cartridges.  Go to their website to find out more details: www.greenschoolproject.com.