As concerned parents and members of the community, Lauren Fung, Robyn Cotter and Tracey O’Hanlon formed a committee, TEAM GREEN to educate students, faculty and fellow parents about the benefits and rewards of recycling. With the support of principal Mr. Chip Bevis and assistant principal Mrs. Becky Kegley at Coles Ferry Elementary School, TEAM GREEN has started the ball rolling by focusing on reducing and recycling paper waste at school.
As concerned parents and members of the community, Lauren Fung, Robyn Cotter and Tracey O’Hanlon formed a committee, TEAM GREEN to educate students, faculty and fellow parents about the benefits and rewards of recycling. With the support of principal Mr. Chip Bevis and assistant principal Mrs. Becky Kegley at Coles Ferry Elementary School, TEAM GREEN has started the ball rolling by focusing on reducing and recycling paper waste at school. The larger goal for TEAM GREEN is to be the recycling pilot program for all of Lebanon Special School District by being a model for energy conservation, use of eco-friendly cleaning products and green practices that are budget and earth conscious.
Students, faculty and family members will be able to recycle paper from home and at school. Newspapers, magazines, old school papers and junk mail from home are welcome to be recycled. TEAM GREEN encourages local businesses to bring their unwanted paper (shredded or not) to be tossed into the recycling bins at school. Each classroom will have its own recycling bin that will eventually be emptied into the large receptacle located at the front of the CFE campus.
The environmentally friendly company Rock-Tenn has agreed to assist them with sponsorship and have already attended a recycling meeting at school to share their expertise.
Not only will students, faculty and family members be helping to reduce and recycle paper waste at Coles Ferry Elementary School, the money earned from recycling will go towards future school projects such as purchasing playground equipment and other much needed school gear.
Some paper recycling facts:
- Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!
- The 17 trees saved (above) can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.
If you or your company also would like to sponsor this initiative, please contact Tracey O’Hanlon at traceyohanlon@charter.net.