May 12, 2013

English Composition II

Research Proposal Letter, Writing Assignment 7

[Street Address]

[City, State/Zip code]

California Department of Education

1430 N Street

Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

The Honorable Mr. Tom Torlakson,



Introduction

With due respect, the efforts of California Department of Education has made are remarkable. However, I am writing this letter to shed light on the prevailing environmental problem that is the school waste stream. The Agency's 2000 conducted a study on the Waste Characterization found that 4 percent of waste nationwide comes from schools. In the State of California, the two major recyclable materials in the waste flow are paper and food wastes, which are about 54% and 20%, respectively (Rich, 32-58). Moreover, the Statewide Waste Composition Study was conducted in 1999 and determined that schools are responsible for about 4% of the total community solid waste. The study concluded that schools dispose more than 330,000 tons of compostable materials and 155,000 tons of recyclable paper in a year (Rich, 25-62). Results of both studies indicated that there are no trends signifying school recycling programs implementation during 2006-2012.

Discussion

In order to examine the current and actual status of the School Recycling Activity, interviews have been conducted on school waste diversion. The goal is to determine the status of school recycling program efforts in each of the schools in the state of California.

An interviewee (Mr. Mark Jefferson) of the study stated that in the schools, there is additional potential of diversion. However, the schools report continuous activity of recycling but lack in implementation. Nearly all respondents reported that there is district support for the activities of waste reduction; whereas, little support was given for actual implementation.

Schools are not aware of the programs and services offered by Sanitary Districts and Cities. Approximately 55% of school sites in the state of California accounted that they were not ...