Students spreading the word

Suzie Harrison

Google the word “recycling” and 10,200,000 Web options pop up in 1.05

seconds. Though information about recycling is virtually available at

everyone’s fingertips, the do’s and don’ts of recycling remain

elusive.

Top of the World Elementary School’s Student Council has taken on

the task of being the recycling educators and facilitators at the

school.

“They were talking about recycling and a responsible way to help

our school community,” Student Council advisor Susan Dick said. “We

worked with Michelle Clark at Waste Management.”

The council took a field trip to Waste Management and became

recycling experts.

“They learned more about recycling and what was involved in

labeling and passing out recycling bins to the whole school,” Dick

said. Dick said they had a recycling program before -- but the

council wanted to find a way the whole school could be involved on a

regular basis.

“We learned at the field trip that people have to constantly be

educated to figure out what people need to make recycling efficient,”

Dick said

At a school assembly today, the council will give a refresher

course with a demonstration, using the school’s ABC’s of learning to

illustrate their point.

“The ABC’s of learning are act responsibly, be prepared to learn

and care for yourself and others,” Dick said. “We decided recycling

would be a good way to act responsibly and care for others.”

Caroline Cannan, 11, who is on the council, said they have

previously had an assembly about what can and can’t be recycled.

“Some people have been asking the same question more than once,”

Caroline said. “It’s important keeping the environment clean because

we live in such a beautiful city. I hate to see trash on the ground

-- all that trash gets dumped into the ocean; we don’t want to have a

dirty ocean.”

Caroline said the hardest aspect of recycling is for people to

remember what type of material goes into each bin.

The 12 student council members help others rethink what they are

doing with trash and make sure if possible to recycle.

Council member Orion Halva, 12, echoed Caroline’s beliefs about

the peril of trash polluting the ocean and the environment.

“The hardest thing for people is knowing what to do with plastic,

some rips and some doesn’t, if it can rip it’s recyclable,” Orion

said. “Note card paper, paper with staples, anything you think could

break down smaller is recyclable.”

Orion said the council gets thanks for their efforts, which makes

him feel good. He thinks recycling is important because it could save

the trees and “our world.”

“Schools generate a lot of paper; it’s one of the number one

places for paper recycling,” Dick said.

Travis Clawson, 11, said he’s glad people are getting in the habit

of recycling and that he is helping that cause.

“It’s an educational project -- real life education they are going

to use for the rest of their lives,” Dick said.