Students at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind caught the recycling bug during the recently completed school year. Students reported that they didn’t want to throw anything out that can be recycled because the landfills are becoming overloaded with valuable paper, plastics and metals.
The blind department high school, in cooperation with FSDB’s Science Curriculum Team, hosted their first-ever Recycle Day. Two “single stream” recycling trucks from Republic Services, Jacksonville came to the school. In single stream recycling, no sorting of wastes into plastics, paper, aluminum, etc. is required.
John Foley, division manager for Sea Board Waste Systems, St. Augustine; and Buz Hendricks, operations manager for Nine Mile Road Landfill, demonstrated to the students and staff how their trucks facilitate the recycling process. In addition, a front-end rubber tire loader on loan from Ring Power, the local Caterpillar dealer, was put into action lifting and loading huge cardboard and plastic bales.
The students had collecting recyclables for several months, and brought their contributions to the recycle collection area, with the recycle trucks collecting and removing 240 pounds of FSDB materials for transport to Republic’s new state of the art Recycling Facility in northwest Jacksonville.
Other student activities on Recycle Day to included displays of items made from recycled materials such as pens, jewelry and handbags.
Patty Springfield, a local artist, exhibited “Art from Ashes,” pieces she has created from recycled materials.
Power point presentations on the recycling process were made to the students by Kellie White, from The McCormick Agency, and Preston Lamm, from Republic Services.
Another highlight was a “Trashy Fashion Show” featuring blind department students and staff modeling their recycled creations including hats, vests, dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc.
In addition, students participated in Recycling “Poetry” and “Poster” contests. Winners were announced and prizes awarded.
Posted: July 1, 2012 on www.staugustine.com