Recycling Trash into Cash!

Sixteen months ago, Dean Painter, Custodial Worker at Sunrise Drive, launched a Bottle- and-Can Redemption program to encourage young and old:  “that we can make a difference,” by recycling to help keep our environment clean.

Enlisting the help of the Sunrise Drive community, he set up collection bins for students and staff to deposit their empty water bottles.  By the end of each month, the money collected for recycling would be “cycled” through a variety of local charities or organizations in need. Flyers (sample, see above) were posted in the hallway to show the charity that would be receiving the collection money that month.

Thanks to their efforts, Sunrise Drive raised over $1,100 for a variety of worthwhile causes. And while fundraising was not the original purpose of the recycling program, the program had a two-fold effect: the Sunrise Drive community received immediate gratification by knowing their donations helped others; at the same time they also saw how their continued recycling will help our environment in the long run.

Wonderful!!!