The Durango School District has launched two sustainability measures in schools: a film plastic recycling program used to create needed materials like asphalt additive for roads, and a bulk milk system in cafeterias meant to cut down on individual packaging and waste.
The film-plastic recycling program is being done in collaboration with 4CORE, the Colorado Circular Economy Development Center and the state’s new Circular Transportation Network, which was launched in early 2025 to collect hard-to-recycle film plastics like bread, ice and cereal bags, and padded mailing envelopes.
According to a news release from the district, the film plastic collected from schools and community drop-off sites is then transformed by CTN into products in demand, such as asphalt additive used to strengthen Colorado roads.
District schools have collected 108 cubic feet of film plastic since April, and hope to increase that by 25% this year, the release said.
District Sustainability Coordinator Ron Reed said many kinds of film plastics – like those accepted by the district program – have historically not been accepted through regular recycling programs and in places like grocery store bag return bins. The district program has created a way to keep those frequently used plastic items out of landfills, he said.
The impact these types of materials can have on the environment – which are used daily by most people – is not often considered, Reed said.
“All of these plastics are the ones that, when they breakdown, they breakdown into tiny little pieces,” Reed said. “And when you hear about (the impact of plastics) in oceans, the plastic bottles are one thing; but it’s the little micro plastics these are made out of that are causing more issues than you know. This is stuff that nobody ever pays attention to.”
Where can I drop off my film plastic?
Students and families of Durango School District may drop off film plastics at individual schools during school hours. Look for a green bin at the entrance to each school.
Community members who don't have a student attending a district school can drop off film plastics at two locations during regular business hours: District Administration Office, 281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 100; or beginning mid-December at the new location, DSD Facilities Warehouse, 28745 U.S. Highway 160.
Reed said small acts have the potential to make a big difference.
“If every (school kid) were to bring me a lunch bag (of film plastics) every day, just imagine,” he said.
The bulk milk program, supported through a grant from the Boulder based Chef Ann Foundation, has replaced single-use milk cartons in some district school cafeterias with self-serve bulk milk dispensers.
The program first launched at Needham Elementary last spring, and has since extended to Animas Valley, Riverview and Florida Mesa elementary schools.
The overall reason for having sustainability programs in place in the district, Reed said, is that it’s simply the right thing to do.
“It’s really our responsibility, because we’re the ones that are leaving it for the younger people, and we’re not leaving them a really healthy planet right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff we can do globally, but if we just do what we can locally, it will eventually affect everything else. We’ve really got to start with the 5,000 kids we’ve got here.”
epond@durangoherald.com
