SCA faculty representative Tiffany Shelton helps students empty their classroom bins into the school’s new recycling bin.

Thanks to a grant from the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, students at Enon Elementary are getting an education in going green as they were one of 18 schools selected to participate in the CVWMA School Recycling Program. In its second year, the pilot program allows the CVWMA to study the amount of paper collected and recycled in school settings while giving students a crash course in helping the environment.

“This is a great chance for our students to learn more about recycling and to be proactive about the process,” says Tiffany Shelton, Student Council Association faculty representative at Enon. “We will be doing this throughout the whole school year and then see where it goes from there.”

As part of the grant, the CVWMA provided each classroom at Enon with a small recycling bin, as well as a large collection container outside of the school. Representatives from the school’s SCA empty the classroom bins twice a month, with the outside container emptied once or twice a month, depending on the amount of recyclable materials generated. Eligible materials can include paper, envelopes, magazines, newspaper, file folders, telephone books, and cardboard.

“We are always trying to participate in recycling programs. We had a different program last year, but this alternative is working out well. It is entirely student-driven, which is the nice thing,” says Enon principal Mike Crusco. “Education is a high-paper environment, so we need to make sure that we are environmentally conscious. It is great to be able to show our students how important it is to recycle.”
Though the program just started, students and staff are already stepping up to the challenge.

“It has been great so far. It was slow getting started, but everyone is really excited about it and excited to be a part of it,” says Shelton. “I was disappointed when we discontinued our last recycling program. Recycling is important, so I am so excited to be a part of this program.”

The CVWMA started the pilot program as a way to encourage more schools in central Virginia to implement school recycling programs. All data from participating schools will be compiled and shared with local school boards to show the impact and cost of the program.

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