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Environmental club catches recycling fever
(by Sali McSherry - April 22, 2010)
Environmental club catches recycling fever
By SALI McSHERRY
The environmental club at Orange High School got into high gear this year with a recycling program that is making a difference, junior Clair Sulerzyski said Monday.
Since plastic, paper and aluminum can be commingled, it makes it easy for everybody to recycle, said senior Ken Ginsburg, who learned from his family at an early age the importance of tending to the earth's needs.
To celebrate Earth Day, the environmental club has offered incentives to students for recycling and hosted a raffle that began last week, junior Shannon Wu said.
Students have been asked to reuse their plastic water bottles utilizing a new "hydration station" in the cafeteria, recycle paper bags and even lunch trays that students can rinse in a sink in the cafeteria, she said. Students received tickets for recycling items that were entered into the raffle, which included prizes such as reusable water bottles, "friends of the Earth" T-shirts, gift certificates and candy, Shannon said.
The district is paying less for trash to be hauled to a landfill and also is helping to make the planet healthier, Clair said.
There are about 50 students on the roster and approximately 20 are actively participating, Clair said.
Last weekend, some club members helped out at Earth Day at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Shannon said.
Last year, the club concentrated on promoting awareness of environmental issues. This year, the club has been moving full steam ahead with a recycling program that has taken its cue from Orange Village, co-adviser and teacher John Sangdahl said.
Daniel Brown, president of Village Council, has been instrumental in helping to develop the program, which has been adopted across the district, teacher Dan Mesh said.
Mr. Brown said, "I was honored to be a part of this significant achievement of the school system. I am certain it will benefit the school system financially and have an even greater community benefit through the education of all students from kindergarten through high school about the benefits of recycling.
Orange, Pepper Pike, Woodmere, Hunting Valley and Moreland Hills all offer recycling programs to residents, students said. Orange purchased large recycling containers for residents who use them to commingle glass, plastic, aluminum and paper. It's been an amazing response by the residents, including those who never before recycled, Mr. Brown said.
Even the high school woodworking classes are involved with the plan. Trees that have fallen on school property are cut, prepared and dried to use for projects in class. Anything that's left is thrown into a bin and can be used for kindling, teacher Aaron Mayer said in a video created by students that airs on the Orange schools television Channel 22. The library recycles paper and encourages students to print only what they need.
The custodians have made a real commitment to the project, Mr. Mesh said.
Waste Management, the school's trash hauler, has containers designated for trash and others for recycling.
"While my generation grew up laughing at our parents because they did not have TVs as kids, I hope this generation grows up laughing at us because we never recycled as kids," Mr. Brown said.
The recycling video, presented to the Orange School Board last week, offers recycling tips coupled with humor and interviews with teachers and students.
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