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Purchasing, Consumption & Waste: Implementation & Updates

Horace Mann School gives priority to considerations of environmental impact in all purchases and contracts with vendors. We strive to choose products that are both functional and environmentally sustainable. We factor in the long-term and far-reaching environmental impacts of our consumption. We establish guidelines for the correct and safe disposal of all waste, and we reuse or dispose of old equipment in an ecologically sound way. The School strives to reduce, reuse and recycle and has a policy of printing only when necessary. Equipment and lights are switched off when not in use.

Did you know....?

Horace Mann School recycles:

  • 65, 000 pounds of cardboard each year
  • 80,000 pounds of paper each year
  • 180,000 cans and bottles each year

Horace Mann School's Food Service Program is certified by the Green Restaurant program.




Horace Mann School saves 60,000 pounds of paper annually with the use of Electric Hand Dryers and, as a result, reduces waste in an equal amount.

The installation of a commercial grade dishwasher in the Cohen Dining Commons, in tandem with the return of metal utensils and china, saves approximately 200,000 pounds of plasticware and paper goods annually.

A commercial grade food grinder recently installed in the Cohen Dining Commons Dishwasher Room has reduced our solid food waste production by 40 60-gallon garbage pails each day.

The Lower Division has opted for pitchers of water and reusable plastic cups in place of commercially purchased bottles of water.

Horace Mann School recycles paper, oil, fluorescent light bulbs, plastic, and computer hardware.

The School has transitioned to the use of green cleaning supplies when and where appropriate.

The School continues to move toward paperless communications for parents and students, including the recent change to sending Middle and Upper Division grade reports via email.

Horace Mann School has installed purified water coolers throughout Middle and Upper campuses to reduce the purchase of bottled water.

The School uses low-VOC and water-based paints on campus to reduce toxins and land-fill, ground water and ozone depleting contaminants.

Horace Mann's Food Service Provider (FLIK) has moved to the following reusable or biodegradable products:

  • Reusable melamine dish ware and trays
  • Reusable drink tumblers
  • Ecotainer paper hot cups
  • International Paper hot cup lids
  • International Paper food containers (soup)
  • Earth Smart plates & bowls
  • Earth Straws & stir sticks
  • Earth Smart forks & spoons
  • Ecotainer clear containers (salad bar)
  • Recycled paper napkins

The School's Food Service Provider is also pleased to report that all of the food service packaging and food serviceware items are made from renewable resources - plants not oil. In their production, they use less fossil fuels and the process emits less harmful greenhouse gases compared to similar petroleum based products.