Lessons from the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership€¦ · La Tierra Buena (T he Good Soil) An organics management internship project in Villalba, Puerto Rico. By University of Puerto

Lessons from the Puerto RicoRecycling Partnership:Engaging Students and CommunityGroups in Sustainable MaterialsManagement

Laura Cardoso & Melissa YoungSyracuse University Environmental Finance Center

Syracuse UniversityEnvironmental Finance CenterOur Mission:• Advance efficient and effective governance and problem-

solving through leadership development and communityparticipation in decision-making processes, focusing on publicinfrastructure education and training, financing, andregulatory tools, in areas such as sustainable materialsmanagement, green infrastructure for stormwatermanagement, smart growth, and comprehensive planning.

SWM in Challenges in Puerto Rico• Non-compliant landfills• “11% recycling rate”• Marine debris, and coral reef

protection• Budget cuts

• Engaging municipal recyclers• Local sensitivities• Environmental Justice

Development of the PRRP

• The PRRP was formed early in2010 by the Puerto Ricangovernment and the USEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) to promotematerials source reduction,clean composting, reuse, andrecycling through a workingpartnership includinggovernment (at all levels), non-profit organizations, citizens,environmental groups, and theprivate sector.

1. PRRP Steering Committee2. Construction & Demolition Debris3. Education & Outreach4. Electronics5. Glass, Metal and Plastic Containers6. Government Relations7. Organics8. Paper9. Scrap Metal10. Special Wastes

PRRP as aCollaborativeProcess

PRRP Communciation

Facebook.com/ReciclamosPR

Social MediaBilingual Websites

PRrecycles.org

ReciclamosPR.org

PRRP in the Community

EFC Sustainable Materials Management /Organics Management Internship

Incorporating Art

Closing the Loop

GettingCreative!

INTERNSHIP PHOTO

La Tierra Buena (The Good Soil)

An organics management internship project in Villalba, Puerto Rico.By University of Puerto Rico students: Jamara Laboy, Juan Carlos Ortega,

Jameil Saez, and Adriana Vega

INTERNSHIP PHOTO

Vieques as aPilot Community

Expansion of the SMM Programs• Replicated Programs

• US Virgin Islands SMM StewardshipProgram (Ongoing)

• New York SMM Stewardshipprogram (To be launched Fall 2014)

• Expanded scope and depth of theprogram

• Integration into university curriculum

• Supplemental SMM Projects

PRRP in the Media

Lessons Learned• Collaboration = Many hands working together

• Teach-the-teacher methodology

• Engaging youth on all levels

• Using previous participants as leaders

• University engagement ensures sustainability ofprograms

Successes of PRRP Programs

• Job creation and economic development• Drawing on recycling companies, potential recycling

employers and building a workforce of youth interested inthe recycling industry.

• Behavior change

• Collaboration and stakeholder engagement• Importance of partnerships and having a locally-based

movement

Questions? Ideas?Laura Cardoso

[email protected], NY

Find us on Facebook!• Facebook.com/SyracuseEFC• Facebook.com/ReciclamosPR• Facebook.com/groups/PROrganicsEducation• Facebook.com/VIrecycles

Melissa [email protected]

Queens, NY