Published: February 22, 2008 03:26 pm      

Using it again | Penn Cambria students learn benefits of recycling

BY ANDREA NIEDERERR

FAMILY CENTER

Winter often keeps students indoors and away from thoughts of the environment and nature.

But, this is not the case for the Penn Cambria Intermediate (PCI) Communities in Schools of the Laurel Highlands After School Program. As part of Service Learning with Communities That Care and the Alternative Community Resource Program Family Center, fourth- and fifth-grade students at PCI recently learned about the benefits of recycling.

During the course of one week, students in the PCI program collected 140 plastic bottles from classmates during lunch. They learned about the many uses for those plastic bottles through recycling.

For instance, 14 recycled bottles can produce one extra-large T-shirt. Recycled bottles can also produce fiber filling for ski jackets, polyester suits, rulers and even bridges.

Students reflected on their accomplishments through activities designed to increase and measure their knowledge of recycling.

A significant outcome was a desire by many students to continue recycling in the future.

Currently, only two out of 10 plastic water bottles make it into recycling bins in the United States each year (earth911.org).

PCI students are enthusiastic about doing their part to make the Earth livable and enjoyable for their own generation and generations to come.

As service learning is so important to the programs of Communities That Care and Communities In Schools, administrators are pleased at the amount of knowledge gained through this recycling project.

For information on Service Learning, contact Andrea Niedererr at The Family Center, (800) 472-1899, ext. 1.