Recycling program in full bloom

RCS’ foray into recycling is in full-bloom.

Following-up on a student-driven initiative, the district’s operations and maintenance staff distributed this month more than 200 recycling bins to classrooms and offices throughout RCS’ seven buildings.

Those bins, Facilities Director Gene Doane reported on Monday, are being well utilized.  

Loose-leave paper, periodicals, tests and other paper items that in the past would have been tossed into trash cans are now being placed in the recycling bins, Doane reported.

“The level of use and interest in recycling is definitely there,” he said.

Custodial staff is collecting the paper and cardboard from the bins and bringing the material back to a main collection point at the district warehouse, located behind the high school. From there, a local waste hauler transports the recyclables to a whitepaper recycling operation.

Driven by the popularity of the National Honor Society’s white paper recycling program in the high school and a similar initiative at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School sponsored by the Habitat Club, Superintendent Vicki Wright announced in February that RCS would launch a district-wide program.

Complimenting the standard recycling bins throughout the district are home-made recycling bins – created by the National Honor Society – that continue to be used in the high school until they are too worn or need to be replaced, Doane said.

“This is a testament to the dedication of our students and staff to the environment,” Superintendent Wright said.