Once a week at Valley View Elementary, a group of trusted students hit the halls with one goal in mind: to save the Earth.
Trolley-equipped and full of enthusiasm, the students cruise from class to class, emptying boxes of paper in a recycling effort that not only benefits the environment, but also the students themselves. same.
Through a partnership with Green For Life Environmental Recycling, students can earn money for school based on the amount of paper they recycle.
A recent fundraiser in February raised nearly $90 for the school’s student fund, according to fourth-grade teacher Joanne Martin.
“Making money wasn’t the point of recycling, but it’s definitely an added bonus,” Martin said, noting that the funds will go towards year-end field trips.
Martin started researching recycling programs last fall after noticing how many plastic water bottles were thrown away at school. She was unable to find a supplier who would accept the plastic, but came across GFL’s Paper Retriever program.
The Free Paper Recycling initiative rewards schools for hosting a paper recycling bin, dispersing funds each time paper is collected.
“I think it’s important to teach about recycling to inspire students to care about the planet, to look at the resources we use to make our world sustainable, to look at the consequences of resource use and generation of pollution and waste,” Martin said. “Schools help shape the habits that we carry on into adulthood.”
Martin’s fourth-grade class began participating in October, but as the program continued, some students were assigned to complete the weekly refresher.
“I really didn’t ask to (be involved),” said fourth-grade student Nicholas Marzouq. “Mrs. Martin just called me and (classmate RJ Stout) and then she was like, ‘Do you want to try something new?’ And we’re like, ‘Of course!’ Then we went to recycle.”
Marzouq admits his favorite part of the weekly refresher is being able to briefly visit friends in different classrooms along the way. But the recycling effort is also important, he said, because “it will save the Earth.”
Stout said he enjoys “helping clean up the school and the planet.”
“We go there on our own and are responsible,” added fourth-grade student Serenity McCoy.
“The most important thing the students took away from this experience was accountability,” Martin said. “Students realize that they are able to make a difference as long as they take responsibility.”
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at [email protected] or 269-501-5661. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC