Schools, Cass County work together in recycling program
WALKER -- Waste education kits developed under a grant for Cass County schools now are available to civic and lake association groups for programs.
Pillager, Longville-Remer, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and Cass Lake-Bena schools worked with Cass County to develop the programs over the past two years.
Brita Sailer, Cass recycling and waste reduction coordinator, can be contacted through the environmental services office to schedule a time to use these kits by calling 547-7241 or 888-547-3301.
Tours of the Cass County transfer station and recycling center also can be arranged by calling Sailer.
Three of the school districts constructed worm bins to compost materials. Worms help speed the composting process. Some did waste audits to track office paper recycling in their school.
Students picked up trash along Paul Bunyan Trail. They helped organize material donated at the furniture exchange and clothing recycling areas at the county recycle center.
Mississippi Headwaters Board provided materials to enable students to paint a message on Walker storm drains: "Don't dump, drains to lake or river."
Earth Day events were scheduled and will be held again this year to inform students about recycling and environmentally friendly waste management practices.
Earth Day this year will be April 19. Check with your area school district for more information about events planned for the public.
Topics covered in Earth Day programs include household hazardous waste disposal, less hazardous cleaning supplies, groundwater protection, storm water run-off, effects of hazardous materials on wildlife, recycled paper making and composting.
Longville students assessed waste practices in their cafeteria and classrooms to plan ways to increase recycling and decrease materials going to the landfill.
Pillager students looked at waste materials useful for developing rich compost to use in their greenhouse project. Cass Lake-Bena students evaluated the benefit of reusable napkins in their cafeteria.
The schools collected used textbooks for recycling.