Mary Jones, ECO’s coordinator for the school recycling project, continues to be enthusiastic about this worthwhile project, which is serving as a model for other communities and schools in the area. The goal this school year, according to Jones, is 100% participation in mixed waste paper recycling in Henderson County public schools. She believes that this will happen, and she hopes the school system will be able to process even more recyclables in the near future.

At the end of the 2004-05 school year, 16 of Henderson County’s 21 public schools were recycling mixed waste paper, according to the principals and coordinating teachers. ECO had provided assistance with those programs through the school year.

When schools re-opened in August, 2005, ECO’s Education Committee again offered assistance via a memo distributed at the first principals’ meeting of the school year. Since then, Jones has contacted all 21 schools. Only three schools were not recycling as of October 3 - - Etowah, Mills River, and Edneyville Elementary Schools - - each due to staff changeover or to other temporary situations.

By September, Jones had given a presentation to North Henderson High’s Interact Club and at Mountain Community School, explaining how the system works. In addition, she delivered requested materials to six schools.

We are pleased that Holly Bullman, Brownfields and Waste Reduction Specialist with Land of Sky Regional Council, has offered assistance with this popular school recycling program. Among other things, Bullman is offering workshops on “The ABC’s of Recycling” to all teachers in our region. Henderson County teachers are approved to receive CEU credits for the workshop. Bullman will also help ECO acquire sturdy, long-lasting recycling bins for schools that want them.

This project is one of several programs managed for ECO through its Environmental Education Committee. For more information about this project and how it can work in your school, e-mail Jones at jonesgm@bellsouth.net or phone the ECO office at (828) 692-0385.