2017 -- H 6222

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LC002710

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS TO MAXIMIZE RECYCLING EFFORTS

AT RHODE ISLAND'S SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Serpa, Kennedy, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Each day, Americans throw away approximately 200 million tons of

garbage, with paper taking up as much as 50 percent of our landfill space; and

     WHEREAS, Since school waste is generally almost 80 percent recyclable, schools can

make a huge impact when they recycle; and

     WHEREAS, School districts and educators should serve as positive role models to

students and the community concerning environmental issues and sustainable environmental

practices; and

     WHEREAS, By educating and engaging students to recycle more of the right things the

right way, whether at home or at school, our schools can help make recycling more economically

viable for our municipalities, thereby generating environmental and community benefits; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, school district source reduction and recycling programs will

foster student achievement by transforming the school environment into a laboratory for learning

by providing numerous opportunities for investigation through environmentally based education;

and

     WHEREAS, By establishing and maintaining a recycling program in all classrooms,

administrative offices, and other areas owned or leased by the school district and designating a

team or classroom to make sure that all recyclables collected during the previous week are placed

in the proper receptacles and available for pick-up on Friday, our school districts can educate the

next generation on the value of caring for their community, their environment and their future;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby encourages all K-12 schools to

unite around the common goal of improving their recycling and waste reduction programs, and

activating student engagement in this positive and relevant change for our state and our world;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Commissioner of Education

and the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees.

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