LSSI News & Events

Initiative News

 

School teachers are spreading recycling awareness to Western U.P community

The state of Michigan has an average recycling rate of 15% as the Western U.P stands at 5%--making it one of the lowest in the nation.

Local groups like the Copper Country Initiative Task Force are looking to mend that gap with the help of local school teachers.

"We have presenters presenting today to us to let us know how we can use them to get this information into our classroom," said Adams Township School District middle school teacher, Cheryl Ruohonen.

Teachers are learning about recycling, reusing and reducing during today's workshop.

They're understanding its importance, as crowding the local landfill can negatively affect the environment.

"Overtime becoming methane gas or greenhouse gases that have to be mitigated in future years and this is very costly," said Copper Country Recycling Initiative Task Force member, David Hall.

Including new discoveries to share with others, like the Houghton County Cardboard Recycling Center.

"I did not know we had a cardboard recycling center facility in Houghton," stated Ruohonen.

Educators are creating lessons for students that can make a difference in the community.

"If we can get them to do things at home and where you live and in your community they take ownership," added Ruohonen.

"Hopefully those bags of trash are going to weigh less because students will now be using both sides of the piece of paper," said workshop director, Joan Chadde. "Maybe they'll actually start composting food wastes from the cafeteria."

Aleah Hordges, Upper Michigan News Source