Glendale schools look to do more with less waste

In a move to save money while also helping the environment, Glendale Unified officials might add a consultant to analyze the district’s waste disposal system to see if there’s room for improvement.

At no cost to the district, MC Waste Consultants would analyze the way schools dispose of trash and recyclables with its current contractor, Southland Disposal.

“This just goes toward us looking at every place we can to save dollars in today’s world,” said Glendale Unified Supt. Dick Sheehan.

Under the possible agreement, if MC Waste determines money-saving potential, Glendale schools could adopt the new recommendations and, in turn, give the consultants a 20% cut of the savings.

Alan Reising, administrator of Glendale Unified’s facilities planning, said the benefit is in the 80% of savings and potentially targeting school waste that could be kept out of the landfill.

During a recent meeting, school board member Joylene Wagner requested to discuss the agreement further before committing to the arrangement.

“I don’t know if there are school districts or other companies that have had any kind of struggle allocating who gets the credit for the savings,” she said. “I don’t anticipate that there would be an issue, but if ... my antenna goes up and I want to know more, everybody should know more.”

School board members Nayiri Nahabedian and Greg Krikorian also wanted to know more about similar work MC Waste Consultants have pursued with other districts or organizations.

A vote could be taken on the proposal when the board meets again in mid-December.

School board President Christine Walters expressed full support for the potential agreement.

“I’m very much in favor of this,” she said. “This is part of doing more with less.”

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