Environment Club makes recycling fashion

Posted on May 11, 2008

By Noelle Frampton, April 26, 2008
Photos by Brian A. Pounds/Staff photographer
©2008CONNECTICUT POST (Used with permission)

MILFORD - Garbage bags, old umbrellas and duct tape took the place of the usual uniforms in adorning the nearly 30 Catholic schoolgirls who worked the "catwalk" Thursday at the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall. 

The girls donned recycled items turned into dresses, skirts and other apparel for the third annual Environmental Club fashion show to raise awareness about environmental conservation in honor of Earth Day.

The club was started in 2000 when students got tired of seeing a plethora of plastic water bottles, said club moderator and Lauralton English teacher Donna DiMassa.

It has grown to about 40 members and sponsors school-wide recycling of bottles, cans, glass, cardboard, paper and plastic, as well as used sneakers and ink cartridges. It also pushes "trash-free lunches" with prizes to induce students to bring Tupperware and permanent water bottles.

DiMassa said she is helping girls who care deeply about environmental issues to channel their concern into action.

Kelley Leen, 18, of Trumbull, and Carly Lind, 17, of Shelton, club president and vice president, said they plan to take their passion for environmental preservation to their respective colleges next year.

State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Dennis Schain said the club's efforts "are exactly the kind of thing that we need to raise awareness and increase the recycling rate and it's especially exciting to hear of younger people being engaged. They are going to be the adults of the future who are going to have to keep this going."

Schain said the department recently amended its garbage-management plan in hopes of increasing the state recycling rate from about 30 percent to 58 percent.