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Hernando Today

'Recycling Rangers' To The Rescue

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: September 17, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - It's kind of scary talking to big kids, but it's worth it in the name of recycling.
That was the scene Wednesday morning at Suncoast Elementary School, when fourth-graders Sammy DeAngelis and Alex Dean, both 9, stood in front of a classroom of fifth-graders, bravely educating their older peers about its virtues.
"Each hour, enough garbage is thrown away in Hernando County to fill an entire classroom," Sammy told the class, reading earnestly from a prepared public service announcement.
"Here's what we need you to do," Alex added, holding up examples of which materials go in each classroom's separate recycling bins.
Part of a districtwide initiative set into motion by Superintendent Wayne Alexander, the school previously did not have a recycling program until last year, when fourth-grade teacher Emilie Hansen and third-grade teacher Alisa Ball helped organize the push to recycle paper.
Officials ordered containers and worked with Hernando County Waste Management officials to set up a program, and students in the two classes became the school's "recycling rangers," going classroom to classroom on designated pickup days.
"It's something we've talked about since we've been here, and I think it empowers kids to get involved," Hansen said. "That way, they learn civic responsibility and see how their actions can make a difference in the community."
This year, they are expanding the program to include cardboard, plastic bottles and cans, and a new crop of students is responsible for picking up and consolidating each classroom's recyclable waste.
"Garbage dumps do not need to have any more garbage that doesn't need to be there," said Alex Stewart, 9. "If we're recycling this much, it helps (reduce) that."
With the new program, Suncoast Elementary is now recycling one ton of waste per month, according to waste management spokesperson Rick McCaffrey, who spoke to the class last week.
"It's good to recycle because we want to stop pollution all over the Earth," added classmate Persephone Fox, 9.
And it's not just Suncoast. All of the district's schools are making strides with recycling this year, said maintenance director Ken Hill.
Through a deal with waste management, the program has allowed the district to eliminate dozens and dumpsters and dumpster pickup costs, resulting in an estimated annual savings of $50,000 to $60,000, he said.
"It's good because it's all green. This recycling program is a big thing," Hill said.
In December, the district's use of environmentally-safe cleaning products earned it the title of the "greenest" school district in the nation by American School & University magazine.
Other green initiatives by the district include leasing a densifier to recycle polystyrene cafeteria plates, using waterless urinals at three sites, switching to a computerized air conditioning system and installing motion sensors to light fixtures in all of the district's classrooms.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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