Conserve natural resources. Protect the environment. Save money.
S.C. Resource Conservation Challenge The S.C. Resource Conservation Challenge (Challenge) is about new and improved ways for state agencies, colleges/universities, local governments, schools and school districts to conserve natural resources, protect the environment – and perhaps save money in the process. It is modeled after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) and customized for South Carolina, can be met in a variety of ways. Those ways include implementing and expanding initiatives on waste reduction, recycling, buying recycled and energy conservation as part of an overall sustainability program.
Each of us must accept and meet the Challenge. Each of us must have a resource conservation ethic. Each of us must operate more efficiently. Each of us must purchase more wisely. If each of us meets the Challenge, South Carolina will have a safer, cleaner environment.
Below are some recent success stories from the June 2009 e-newsletter. To be featured in an upcoming newsletter, e-mail Tiffany Jaspers or call (803) 896-4223.
JUNE 2009 E-Newsletter Stories
 |
Woodland Heights Success Story After being awarded a $1,450 grant from DHEC’s Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, Woodland Heights began educating students about environmental issues. Catherine Vitale, the school art teacher, organized a Green Team of students with representatives from each class, kindergarten through fifth grade. Recycling bins were purchased for every classroom and Green Team students became responsible for reminding classmates to recycle paper, plastic, and aluminum cans. Students began wearing Green Team t-shirts on Fridays as they collect the paper around school. Sonoco Recycling of Spartanburg provided the rolling cans and are picking up the paper to be recycled. |
| In April, students signed an Earth Day Pledge promising to protect the earth while daily environmental announcements were made. Fifth graders entertained students and parents with a program that highlighted their field trip to Barrier Island where they learned about human impact on the environment. At Open House, Food Lion donated 300 reusable bags to all the parents. Members of the community spoke, reinforcing how to reduce, reuse and recycle. Students sang about recycling, painted pictures, made paper mache globes and wrote about "What a Wonderful World" they live in. "We know that these elementary students are our future. The Earth’s future depends on these students’ awareness of the world around them. Woodland Heights is committed to teaching children to respect and appreciate what they have, turn off the water while brushing their teeth and take only what they need”, said principal Dr. Cindy Pridgen, “Students have even been putting pressure on their parents to recycle at home!” |
| Breathe Better (B2) The anti-idling/clean air campaign - known as Breathe Better (B2) - aims to reduce harmful vehicle emissions from mobile sources around school campuses. “Mobile sources such as cars and school buses are a major contributor to air pollution in South Carolina. Because children breathe more air for their size than adults, they inhale more pollutants. Air pollution has been linked to respiratory problems such as asthma, a common cause of schools absences. |
 |
| From 2008-2009, over 20 more schools in 11 counties have joined B2. Each school has campaigned with creativity and excitement. Student involvement is a key aspect of B2. By serving on “Clean Air Patrols,” students take ownership of the program and make it more successful. Two schools piloted B2 in 2006-2007: Cross Roads Middle in Richland County and Fountain Inn Elementary in Greenville County. Both schools received grants from Champions of the Environment, and have earned recognition awards for their successes. The goal of B2 is to protect the health and safety of children on school campuses by encouraging parents and bus drivers to reduce idling. Policy change within schools and voluntary behavioral changes within the community are key aspects of the program. For more information on B2 or to get involved, contact Heather Stiltner at (803) 898 -2233 or click here to e-mail. |
|
 |
The Green Step Schools is an environmental education initiative that encourages individual schools to take annual steps toward becoming more environmentally responsible. Schools are assisted by a statewide network of mentors and share their results with other schools. Projects include recycling, habitat and butterfly gardening, composting, indoor and outdoor air quality, water and energy conservation, waste reduction, forestry and many others. Green Step Schools was established in 2003 with Keep the Midlands Beautiful, Sonoco Recycling, and the Office as part of the S.C. Resource Conservation Challenge. |
For more information about Green Steps and to get started, click here. For other information about the Challenge, click here or call 1-800-768-7348.
For more information about recycling in South Carolina, please call 1-800-768-7348.
This Web page was last updated on June 16, 2009.