IMPORTANT NOTICE:
THE BE SMART CONSERVATION CHALLENGE IS NO LONGER A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE FINAL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN SPRING 2007.
WATCH THIS SITE FOR NEWS ABOUT THE CONSERVATION CHALLENGE.
WE HOPE THE INFORMATION HERE HELP STUDENTS AND OTHERS
TAKE ACTIONS TO REDUCE WASTE AND BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT.

COLLEGE CATEGORY

WASTE REDUCTION FOR ALVERNO COLLEGE - Sara L. Laimon
$1,000 Be Smart Scholarship
Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This project set out to reduce waste and raise environmental awareness at a college campus by composting, promoting reusable mugs and reducing paper use. All three ideas were implemented and Alverno College is continuing to reduce waste. Picture shown here is the student built compost bin on campus.

 

REDUCING INFILTRATION AND INFLOW: A Proposed Partial Solution For The MMSD Service Area - Angela Arpke
$1,000 Be Smart Scholarship
MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, Milwaukee, WISCONSIN

Leaks around manhole covers cause rainwater to enter the sanitary sewer. This wastes energy and can lead to sewer overflows.A solution was researched and products for sealing manholes were compared. The information was presented to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. MMSD representatives reviewed the proposal and agreed that seals would prevent pollution and conserve resources.

 

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY

REUSABLE LUNCH TRAYS- Andrew Garman - $1,500 Be Smart Scholarship
WAUKESHA WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

Andrew Garman worked with the food service company, school administrators and the SAVE club to plan and carry out the switch from disposable plastic foam cafeteria trays to reusable trays in a high school. Posters and announcements were made to direct students to use and return reusable trays. This project succeeded in preventing 7,000 disposable lunch trays from being used and discarded at the High School each month. "Reusable Lunch Trays" reduced waste, conserved resources and saved money.

PAPER REDUCTION- KOHL'S FOOD STORE - Amy Lemere, Dane Lisser and Meryl Schiller - $1,200 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The aim of this project was to reduce the amount of paper coupons distributed by a grocery store. The students surveyed shoppers and found that only 25% use the paper coupons. The group informed Kohl's and learned that the decision to change could be made by regional managers. The students hope to convince the regional managers to change their practices and reduce paper waste at many stores.

 

SAVING PAPER WITH THE MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Matt Sabjak, Brady Miller and Andy Multerer - $1,200 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The group investigated the practice of printing and saving extra newspapers at the Milwaukee Business Journal. It was learned that an excess is printed and discarded. The students worked with the paper's Marketing Manager to adjust the number of copies printed to reflect actual use. This measure reduces waste and saves a great deal of paper (and money) for the Milwaukee Business Journal.

PROJECT TOWEL - Don Schuenke, Neil Pesch and Aaron Kudick
$1,000 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to reduce water consumption and pollution by allowing hotel guests to use a towel more than once during their stay before sending it to the laundry. Signs told guests to hang towels they would reuse and put towels to be replaced in the tub or shower. This project brought awareness to the hotel management about how to save money and the environment. The hotel is considering signs for all rooms to encourage guests to reduce waste.

BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP PROPOSAL - Chris Hartman, Courtney Lauer and Amanda Sutkiewicz - $750 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project encouraged the restoration of an urban contaminated property (a "brownfield") to a usable condition, eliminating a threat to public health. The group obtained permission from state agency to test soils at the site. Work was done to remove fuel, waste oil, lead contamination and small quantities of hazardous wastes. A method for reducing groundwater contamination was used. The efforts lowered soil and groundwater contamination in an area.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE REDUCTION - Jon Wickus, Mike Heinrich and Richelle Konkel $750 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The purpose of this project was to decrease waste in homes by buying foods in bulk to reduce packaging and by reusing organic waste through composting. Sixty homes were surveyed and residents were encouraged to buy in bulk and compost. The group built a compost box and added organic wastes from the participating homes. Measurements revealed an average 17.2% reduction in waste. The students found a need for community compost services.

PAPER REDUCTION - Trisha Novak, Sarah Koelbl, Sarah Van Nostrand
$750 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project reduced paper use in an officeby increasing the use of electronic mail and using both sides ofpaper for billing statements. The group convinced Physician Billing Service to begin printing two-sided reports for doctors. Printers and copiers were set to use both sides of paper. The business agreed to continue printing double-sided reports to save money and reduce waste. This will reduce paper usage for this office by 1,428 sheets per year.

PAPER REDUCTION PROJECT - Mike Schmidt, Ben Baker and Dan Costello - $750 Be Smart Scholarship
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The goal of this project was to reduce paper waste at a printing company. Printing mistakes were identified as a cause of waste. Waste paper printed on only one side was used to make notepads that were sold to customers and waste paper printed on both sides was recycled. Half of the business's waste is now diverted from the trash. The project helped the printing company save money, serve customers and benefit the environment.

 

A CALL FOR CLOTH - Randall Spidell
BAY VIEW HIGH SCHOOL, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

This project proposed to convince grocers to give a 3% discount for customers using cloth bags instead of paper. A meeting with a local grocery store chain was planned to suggest replacing paper with cloth bags, which the stores could sell. The students will encourage grocery stores to implement the plan.

MILWAUKEE RIVER: PURE OR POLLUTED? - Jessica Vandeboom
WEST BEND WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WEST BEND, WISCONSIN

The objective of this project was to study water from the Milwaukee River and compare it to water from other sources. Water samples were collected from the Milwaukee River and compared with tap water and rainwater. The river water was clouded with particles. Sources of runoff pollution were identified.

CONSERVATION OF CUPS - Ashley Deinlein
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project aimed to stop employees in a fast food restaurant from using disposable cups intended for customers. Data about the problem was collected and posters were created to remind employees to bring and reuse their own cups. The restaurant's trash decreased by 4 large trash bags per week. The restaurant saved money on cups and trash disposal.

OPERATION LUNCH BOX - Shannon Helm and Erika Kimpel
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The students worked with an elementary school to reduce lunchroom waste. Posters and reminder letters to parents promoted the use of lunch boxes instead of single-use lunch bags. If continued, this will eliminate 53 pounds of trash per month at the school.

WASTE REDUCTION PROJECT - Steve Braun
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

The purpose of this project was to reduce waste in a cookie factory by switching from paper toweling to cloth and reusing parchment papers when baking. Bakers were informed of the waste reduction methods and paper waste decreased by 42% in one week's time. The procedures were fairly easy to use.

WASTE REDUCTION PROJECT - Erin Bade and Kim Nadolny
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

Paper schedules used at a swimming school become unusable when splashed with water. Methods for eliminating this problem were researched. The school began using laminated schedules. This change will save approximately 6 reams of paper per year.

GROCERY BAG SAVING PROJECT - Andy Grasch, Jamie McLaughlin and Tony Feltes
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project reduced plastic and paper bag consumption at a grocery store. The group helped Grasch Foods obtain and sell canvas bags imprinted with the store's name. Posters encouraged customers to use canvas bags or reuse their paper and plastic bags. Paper and plastic bag use decreased by 18%, saving $121.28 in just one week. That's an estimated 23,400 bags in one year. The store will continue the program to promote a healthy environment and set an example for other businesses.

BIKERS SAVING OUR ENVIRONMENT - Ashley Dawes and Andrew Biebel
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to reduce energy costs for a major manufacturer and help preserve the environment by reusing waste oil. Information about waste-oil burning furnaces was gathered and the group developed a proposal for the Harley Davidson plant in Milwaukee. Harley Davidson's upper management is considering the proposal to install a furnace fueled by the company's waste oil and oil brought by citizens.

COMPOSTING - Stephanie Prosen
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project promoted composting to help save landfill space and reuse nutrients in household organic waste to create a rich soil amendment for gardens. The students constructed a wire compost bin in a back yard and collected data about its use for 2 weeks. Nineteen neighbors were given information on composting and were surveyed about their willingness to compost kitchen scraps.

WASTE REDUCTION! - Nicole Daggett and Emily Kobach
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to instill pride in the environment by keeping it clean and eliminating litter along the roadsides of six neighborhoods. The students collected roadside garbage two weeks and sorted it into two categories - recyclable and non-recyclable. The group collected over 70 pounds of litter and recycled almost 37 pounds of it.

CLASSROOM PAPER REDUCTION - Tara Dechant and Kristin Gamalski
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project reduced paper use in a school science lab. Lab sheets were taped to each lab station table to avoid duplication of single handouts for each student. Paper savings were calculated and students were surveyed about the convenience of the new system. Lab students preferred having the sheets taped to the tables. Continuation of this project will save many pounds of paper and $40 in costs for a single class.

THE PAPER PROBLEM - Wes Matthews, Dan Benavente and Eric Hart
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project researched the use of paper towels used in public restrooms and suggested alternatives. Cost differences and people's preferences were investigated. Calculations showed that waste would be reduced and money would be saved if paper towel dispensers were replaced with hand blowers. However, most people surveyed prefer paper towels.

WASTE REDUCTION IN THE HOME - Matt Hasenbush
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to conserve water use in a home using a number of simple, everyday actions. The need to conserve water was discussed by the family and rules were established about shower time, dog and car washing, running the dishwasher, and running tap water for cold drinks. As a result, the family of four saved 838 gallons of water in two weeks.

KIDS WRITES CARPOOL - Alejandra Ovalle and Eileen Mraz
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project's purpose was to reduce air pollution by encouraging the use of carpools. Benefits of carpooling were presented to students involved in the school play. The group made rules for carpooling and maps of areas to serve. Participants liked carpooling to save time, gas, money, and parking places, to meet new friends and keep the air clean.

REDUCE FOAM CUPS - Dan Barwinski
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to reduce foam cups used for coffee sold at a gas station. The manager agreed to the plan of asking customers to buy coffee in plastic cups with the gas station logo instead of disposable foam cups. The student made signs and posters about the project and hung them in the gas station. Customers were observed and surveyed; most found the program convenient and would like it to continue.

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LUNCH IN REUSABLE CONTAINERS - Rechel Burton, Lea Romagna and Jenny Fischer
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to reduce waste from a school cafeteria by promoting use of reusable containers. The group surveyed students and hung posters about waste generated by school cafeterias. Changing students' habits was difficult. Encouraging students to bring reusable containers would save money on trash disposal and help the environment.

BIG APPLE BAGEL WASTE MANAGEMENT - John Murry, Eric Ziegler and Becky Ross
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

This project set out to stop hundreds of extra bagels from being thrown away each week at a bagel store. The store manager agreed to the project and the students arranged to pick up the extra bagels each evening at closing time for a week. Bagels were taken to households and eaten by people and animals. This prevented 157 pounds of bagels (that's 580 bagels) from being landfilled.