You could build, say, a pickup truck with the amount of scrap brought in during a metal-collection event in March at Bethel Park’s George Washington Elementary School.
Michael Brothers Hauling and Recycling reported a total of 2.34 tons, or 4,680 pounds.
The Baldwin Borough company collaborated with Verichek Technical Services Inc. in Bethel Park and Washington’s environmentally conscious Green Team to hold the event.
Last year’s drive provided money for the school to purchase a large box from TerraCycle, a New Jersey business that runs a volunteer-based recycling platform, to collect school supplies and keep them out of landfills. Through TerraCycle’s fundraising program, the school earns points for each shipment of hard-to-recycle trash, and they can be redeemed in the form of a donation.
Washington also is involved in the GotSneakers program, earning a dollar amount for shoes that can be repurposed.
The Green Team leaders, teacher Tammy Williams and school librarian Becky Minella, reported that student members participated in the annual Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania poster and video contests. Their work has been recognized as among the top entries in the state in past years.
Washington had schoolwide involvement in the National Energy Technology Laboratory U.S. Department of Energy “Plastics vs. Planet” Earth Day Poster Contest. Third and fourth graders participated in the 2024 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program by submitting posters on how to keep Pennsylvania beautiful.
Results for both contests will take place in late May.
Earth Day-inspired activities in which students are taking part include planting sunflower seeds and distributing earth-inspired bookmarks they created. They are supporting the Friends of Bethel Park Public Library’s Pop-Up Used Book Sale, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28, by collecting books to sell.
Evey True Value Hardware and Rental in Bethel Park donated reusable bags for Washington’s fall book fair, and in the spring, students and staff members brought in bags to reuse for their purchases, helping to keep plastic bags out of landfills.