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Environmental Club commemorates America Recycles Day

Posted on Nov 16, 2008

November 15, 2008 marked the eleventh anniversary of America Recycles Day, a day dedicated to encouraging Americans to take care of the environment. More than 35 states held America Recycles Day events. America Recycles Day is supported by the National Recycling Coalition and sponsored by the U.S. EPA.

The Lauralton Hall Environmental Club has commemorated this special day for seven years by pledging to reduce, reuse, recycle, and to buy products made from recycled materials. “In the past, the Connecticut Recycling Coalition sent pledge cards to schools. Students filled them out in TA, and then I mailed them back to the Coalition. Now the pledge is taken on line,” said Donna DiMassa, Environmental Club moderator. During the trash-free lunch marathon, a computer was available so that students could pledge online.

In addition to pledging, the club held its fifth annual trash-free lunch marathon. The marathon started off with the Jaws soundtrack pulsating over the PA system during morning announcements. As the music swelled, the club treasurer Maureen Cashman, ’09 announced “Just when you thought it was safe to go to the cafeteria, TRASH-FREE LUNCH IS BACK!” In the background historian Jen Amidon, ’09 controlled the music.

During the three days of trash-free lunch, November 12 to November 14, students and faculty who brought trash-free lunches to school could enter a drawing for raffle prizes. A trash-free lunch consists of Tupperware, a cloth napkin, permanent lunch box, silverware and a permanent water bottle. Students were offered a raffle ticket for each environmentally friendly item they brought in.

Prizes included more than 25 colorful, reusable tote bags that were displayed on the wall of the cafeteria along with tee shirts made from organic cotton. Notebooks made from sugarcane waste were also offered as prizes, as well as Burt’s Bees cosmetics, permanent water bottles and much more. Mary Siroky, ’12 made two hemp bracelets with glass beads. “I’ve been making bracelets for a really long time now,” said Mary, “and I started looking into glass beads as opposed to plastic ones. I did research, and I found that plastic can’t biodegrade. I plan to wear one of my creations in the fashion show in the spring.” Briana Archer, ’12 donated “green art” supplies: pencils made out of recycled wood, organic pastels and an organic cotton storage case. “I wanted to donate something different that is environmentally friendly and something that reflects who I am. I know that artists go through a lot of supplies,” Briana said.

The point of the trash-free lunch marathon is to get students to think about the choices that they make everyday: a reusable container or a throw-away bag. Americans represent only five percent of the world’s population, but they generate thirty percent of the world’s garbage. The average student with a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of waste, just from lunches. It’s time to make that lunch trash free! 



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