Green Fundraisers

Green Your Car Wash

Traditional car wash fundraisers can cause water pollution if wash water flows to the storm drain. Water from washing cars not only contains dirt and soap, but also oil, grease, and metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc. Dirty wash water from car wash fundraisers held in parking lots or on the street flows into the storm drains and goes straight to local creeks and the Bay without any treatment. Instead of sending soap, dirt and car grim down storm drains, here are a few suggestions:

Partner with a Commercial Carwash: Commercial car washes, including those at gas stations, drain wash water to local wastewater treatment facilities that remove pollutants. Commercial car washes also use water efficient technology, and often recycle the wash water.

• Contact local commercial car washes for discounted passes that you can sell at a higher price to raise funds.
• Hold the event at a commercial car wash and ask them to donate part of the profits if you help to advertise.
• Partner with a self-serve car wash to host the event at their facility and wash cars for tips.

If you still want to hold a traditional car wash fundraiser, here’s what you can do to minimize the polluted runoff and conserve water:

• Wash cars on a field instead of a parking lot, so soapy water will not run into storm drains, streets or gutters.
• Use rags to wipe brake dust off of wheels before washing.
• Use a low flow nozzle on your hose to conserve water.
• Avoid using soap and other chemicals (such as spray-on wheel cleaners). Even biodegradable soap can be toxic to wildlife.
• Pour your bucket of soapy water down a sink or toilet or onto landscaping when you are finished.
• Use waterless carwash products.

Design and install a bioswale that will be able to remove pollution from the wash water runoff. This is a significant project commitment, but can help ensure your school is sustainable for future years of car wash fundraising. Grant programs may also be available for a project such as this.

Recycling Collection Fundraisers

There are many organizations that pay schools for collecting printer cartridges, cell phones, small electronics and even juice boxes and snack wrappers. These kinds of fundraisers help reduce waste in the greater community, and encourage families to recycle items they might otherwise throw away. See the Resources List below for a small sample of companies that offer the fundraisers.

Resources

There are many companies that offer school fundraising opportunities. This list is not intended to be complete, or an endorsement by the City of San José.

Cartridges for Kids
www.cartridgesforkids.com/
Pays schools and non-profit organizations cash for empty laser and inkjet cartridges, used cell phones, laptops, PDAs, GPS devices and iPods.

Funding Factory
www.fundingfactory.com/
Printer cartridges and cell phones

Office Depot – "Recycling Rules" program
Earn Office Depot gift cards by collecting all brands of ink, toner and small electronic for recycling.

Terracycle
www.terracycle.net/
Get paid for hard-to-recycle items such as empty juice packs, zip-type bags and snack wrappers. The company makes new items out them: such as clipboards, plastic fencing, insulated coolers and more.

ChinookBook
ChinookBook.net
Chinook Book is a one-of-a-kind green resource — an annual guide and coupon book that promotes healthy green living and community vibrancy. Schools can sell Chinook Books as a fundraiser for school projects, trips and activities.  For more information, please contact the Community Outreach Manager, Kira Pascoe, at kira.pascoe@chinookbook.net or (510) 550-8280.

Funding & Fundraisers

• Funding & Fundraisers
• Youth Education & Improvement Grants
• Green Fundraisers