Students promote recycling

A group of students at Fairfield High School have a plan to increase recycling in the building.

The quartet of Kaylee Hanley, Michael Ennen, John Boatright and Briseyda Jiminez hatched the idea to put recycling tubs in as many rooms at the high school as they could. The idea began as a homework assignment for Tyler Miklo?s American Government class, but the students were genuinely interested in putting it into practice.

The four students agreed that they would help empty the bins when they were full. They hope the practice will become a permanent feature of every classroom in the building, and a practice that will be passed on from one class to the next.

Waste Management supplied the tubs for the students? project. Company employee Chris Bettin presented the tubs to the students Dec. 7. Bettin said he thought it was a fantastic idea, and hoped more people would learn what items are and are not acceptable to put in the big green tubs. For instance, many people do not know that aluminum cans and plastic containers must be washed, and that cardboard boxes should be flattened before being placed in a recycling bin. The other acceptable items are paper, newspaper and magazines.

Things that are not acceptable are polystyrene foam, garbage, batteries, light bulbs, yard waste, ceramics, window glass or drinking glasses.

Hanley said the students got the idea for the project because they saw a number of items in trashcans that could be recycled but weren?t. The students wrote a letter stating their proposal, and that letter made its way to Waste Management.

Miklo said the students? goal is to fill the recycling dumpsters.

?The students understand the importance of recycling, and we need to make sure it continues,? he said.