The Green News
The Green News Update 05/25/12
On the final
Trashless Tuesday for the school year 2011-2012 we thanked the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for their courteous, quiet attention during the times we spoke to them this year. The teachers and lunch staff have made it an expectation that when an adult speaks to them in a classroom setting the kids are to stop talking and give their undivided attention. Paige and I thank the teacher’s aides for creating this learning environment for the five minutes we were given. We let the kids know that while reducing, reusing and recycling may not have been on their minds, we are hopeful that what we have shared with them on the subject will help them think more about it in the future.
We let them know how the ball will be in their court on decision- making while on family field trips. We encouraged them to use recycling receptacles while on outings and to pack out what they bring in, to make the choice to dispose their waste in the proper receptacles. We let them know that recycling receptacles are available at most public places, and to look for them because it matters. We emphasized that together we can make a difference for ourselves and for our future generations, and that in the end, we could say we did try our very best to conserve and extend our fossil fuels until we improve on better alternatives.
I leave the recycling committee at Meadowbrook with
Paige Brooks, who will chair the committee for the next school year. Since we were unable to reach out to the first and second graders on a consistent basis, we are
looking for two moms to cover the two lunch periods starting at noon for 20 or 25 minutes and again at 12:25 for 25 minutes. Help is needed in both lunch groups in the small gym for the 1st and 2nd graders and in the large gym for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at the same time. The group size is subject to change depending on the class sizes. A commitment for the 1st and 2nd graders need only be to meet with the kids every other week. Meeting 4 times per month would be beneficial for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. If Tuesday does not work out maybe it can be changed to Trashless Wednesday instead with consistency primarily with the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. What counted most is that we were present to help them recycle properly after the initial education. Please contact Paige (214 213-7317) or myself to find out what we did and said. We can also show you copies of past Green News. Your help is greatly needed.
Joan (847-291-1005)
Did you see how the park dist
rict responded to the 5th graders’ letter requesting
recycling receptacles at the baseball diamonds and soccer fields in Northbrook? This is the lesson we taught the 5th graders this school year- how grassroots involvement works and how they can make it happen.
Check out this site to get the
Plastic Recycling Facts
http://earth911.com/recycling/plastic/plastic-bottle-recycling-facts/
Click here to learn about the Glad product for a
reusable sandwich container option that is also PBA free.
http://www.glad.com/products/food-storage/containers/
Click here to learn about
snackTaxi another alternative to using plastic baggies for sandwiches,
www.lunchville.com. They are washable and pays for itself in a short time.
Earth911 gives a complete list of items that can be recycled.
http://earth911.com/recycling/ or visit
www.earth911.com
Northbrook’s recycling program:
http://www.northbrook.il.us/index.aspx?page=130
Northbrook’s yard waste program:
http://www.northbrook.il.us/index.aspx?page=131
2 Articles about the dilemma of plastic grocery bags:
The Plastic Bag Wars, by Kitt Doucette, http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-plastic-bag-wars-20110725
Myth: Recycling Can Fix This, http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/myth-busting/recycling-can-not-fix-this