Page 42 - The EDGE Summer 2025

TRASH TO TREASURE

BY TONY SCARFO
Recycling Can Be a Resource for Revenue and

Expenditure Reduction
Tony Scarfo
As a Facilities Manager observing teachers and diverting from the landfill as an expense. Other
their students collecting cans and bottles to create materials we recycle are categorized as ferrous,
revenue to subsidize clubs for field trips and non-ferrous or other.
supplies, it occurred to me that Phoenix Union
and our students could benefit from collecting Ferrous consists of steel, metal, or iron, or non-
and recycling material that would otherwise be ferrous which consists of lead, copper, brass and
delivered to the landfill as an expense. aluminum. The "other" category can be material
like batteries, palets, appliances, stainless
"If your district is being impacted by steel ballast, transformers, electronic scrap,
lower revenue from an enrollment compressors and motors. There can be a lot of
details and oversight to manage a comprehensive
decrease, recycling is a positive recycling program or keep it simple and manage

revenue resource." the easy-to-recycle material only.

The creation of a comprehensive recycling This is a short version of our PXU sustainability
program with student and staff involvement operations and would hope to create some thoughts
resulted in tens of thousands of revenue generated on how your district can optimize savings and
and a subsequent reduction of M&O expenses for generate revenue.
waste fees. This revenue stream is used to support
campus clubs along with purchasing supplies and In creating any program that manages assets or
equipment that support sustainability initiatives waste, be sure to collaborate with your Finance
like replacing old appliances with energy-efficient Department to comply with procurement
ones. The impact was noticeable in the ownership processes in disposing of property and creating
of environmental stewardship by our STUGO any agreements with outside resources.
Sustainability Officers, “Green Clubs” and staff.
Tony Scarfo, Campus Facilities Manager, Phoenix
Phoenix Union collaborates with local Union High School District and “Self-proclaimed
municipalities, nonprofit agencies, business Sustainability Specialist” can be reached at:
entities and other community stakeholders to scarfo@phoenixuion.org or (602) 686-2404.
repurpose or recycle a vast amount of material. If
your district is being impacted by lower revenue
from an enrollment decrease, recycling is a positive
revenue resource. We generate considerable
revenue from E- Waste and other materials while
promoting environmental responsibility and

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42 THE EDGE SUMMER 2025