Waste Management: Recycle America Field Trip
The SPC Green Club on a Magic School Bus ride to.....
A Landfill!
Our trip on 12/5 focused mainly on learning about and witnessing recycling as well as understanding recyclable commodities. We learned that being green and thinking green really make sense in this economy! It was explained to us that our economy can be more enhanced, not threatened, by green initiatives.
Our presenter, Rori, was exceptional and she helped us clearly understand the tasks at hand in regards to recycling and why we need to recycle and recover items throughout our daily lives. She explained what a "bale" is and we talked about some green jobs related to the facility. Ask any Green Club student about the specifics of "The Rule of Palm" or why the landfill workers set off firecrackers from time to time. The club might even be able to tell you what the layers of a landfill are: does a landfill use dirt or crushed wood in the layering process? We touched on the topics of decomposition and learned the difference between aerobic and anaerobic. The questions the club asked during the lecture were outstanding. The students were attentive and it was such a worthwhile trip. Our awe and pride in the members of Green Club continues to grow.
We are hopeful the Club will remember a lot of these facts throughout the holidays as more and more "things" come into our homes.
Where is AWAY? That is the question!
A GREEN CLUBBER'S NOTES OF INTEREST FROM OUR TRIP
Commodities- the end product that is sold once recycleables are sorted & baled.
"The Rule of Palm"- if the plastic cap of a container is smaller than your palm, put it back on the container.
Prepare- PLEASE clean out your recycleables as dirty items end up in a land fill
Separate- be sure to take that metal lid off of the glass jar before tossing in the recycling bin
Empty- be sure to empty out the aluminum can before it's tossed in the recycling bin (added liquid could impact the final sale of a bale. If too much liquid exists in the cans, the bale will be rejected.)
Bale- many recycleables are crunched into large squares for ease in transport and selling.
Our presenter also stressed how important our decisions are even before we purchase an item
DURING THE HOLIDAYS, REMEMBER TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS:
-Does this item have too much packaging? (the less packaging, the better)
-Do I really need it? (or will it end up in the landfill in a month?)
-Did I remember my reusable bags? (just say NO to plastic bags!)
Wishing you a very Green and thoughtful Christmas Season!
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