TORONTO - Pupils at St. Francis Central School recently showed their moxy by placing first in a statewide recycling contest sponsored by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio Recycling Challenge, locally coordinated in Jefferson County by the Keep Jefferson County Beautiful, a division of Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority, ran Oct. 18 through Nov. 21. St. Francis came in first by recycling a total of 67.46 pounds of recyclables per person, while the School of Bright Promise placed third and recycled 36.76 pounds of recyclables per person. St. Mary Central School in Belmont County placed second statewide.
Sixty-two schools took part in the challenge statewide with 28 of the participating schools in Jefferson County, according to Louise Holliday, education coordinator for Keep Jefferson County Beautiful.
"St. Francis was No. 1 in the state," said Holliday. "We had all the schools in Jefferson County participating. They are all dedicated to helping save the Earth through recycling and litter prevention."
Holliday said this was the first year for the recycling challenge.
"The schools had to report weekly their totals recycled to the OEPA," she said.
Marian Barker, school principal, said pupils at St. Francis aggressively recycle.
"We have four recycling bins outside the school," said Barker, adding two bins are for paper and two are for plastics. "We also have recycling bins in all the classrooms. I think the families and those in the parish understand the importance of recycling and how it helps to better the world."
Holliday said the Keep Jefferson County Beautiful agency is involved in educating future generations about the importance of recycling.
"We also host a lot of (recycling) seminars and presentations," said Holliday. "St. Francis participates in all of our environmental activities. We are very proud. There's never been a time when we've called on the schools and they haven't stepped up to the plate?
"(The schools) all do it for the community," continued Holliday. "It's wonderful that Jefferson and Belmont counties have the highest (state recycling) scores. It's amazing."
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of our school administrators, faculty, students, parents and community as a whole for the support and role that each play in conserving and preserving our environment for future generations," said Diane Julio, director of the Keep Jefferson County Beautiful agency. "It's great that three schools in the Jefferson/Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority were the top three. Kudos to each and everyone of them for their daily recycling practices."
Participants were asked to recycle paper, paper products, corrugated cardboard and all mixed recyclables, such as bottles, cans, glass and plastic. All statistics were based on amount of recycled materials in pounds per person, and Jefferson County had 26 other schools participating in the challenge, including Bishop John King Mussio Lovers Lane Campus, fourth; Pleasant Hill Elementary, fifth; Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, seventh; Buckeye Northwest Elementary, ninth; Steubenville Catholic Central High School, 11th; Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus, 14th; Buckeye North Elementary, 15th; Buckeye Local South, 16th; Edison High School, 17th; West Elementary in Adena, 18th; Springfield Middle School, 19th; East Garfield School, 20th; S.C. Dennis Elementary, 23rd; Karaffa Middle School, 25th; Pugliese West Elementary, 26th; Wells Academy, 28th; Harding Middle School, 29th; John Gregg Elementary, 30th; Jefferson Joint Vocational School, 31st; Buckeye Southwest, 33rd; Stanton Elementary, 36th; Toronto High School, 39th; Wintersville Elementary, 40th; Buckeye Local High School, 41st; and Indian Creek High School, 44th.
(Miller can be contacted at mmiller@heraldstaronline.com.)
