Easier being green: Mary Blount kicks off recycling program

By Melanie Tucker
of The Daily Times Staff

They had all the makings of a pep rally at Mary Blount Elementary Tuesday. Students and staff seated and standing in the gymnasium, wearing the same color and yelling in unison.

But it wasn't a sports team that elicited cheers. The kindergarten through fifth grade audience was geared up over their school's decision to go green.

Lee Pierce, the father of third-grader Evan Pierce and the executive director of Sylvan Learning in Maryville, arrived at the school with 52 recycle bins, 40 that Sylvan purchased for the school and 12 donated by Spectra Recycling. That's one mixed paper recycle bin for each classroom, office, mail room and work room at the school. Students gathered in the school's gymnasium to receive the generous gift and to show their gratitude through personal cards for Pierce and with a boisterous "thank you" that rang out loud and clear.

The whole project got off the ground when school counselor Heather Tuck decided to make recycling a focus with students. She was taking donations for it when Pierce caught wind and joined the cause by offering the bins.

"We had been kicking around the idea of a green grant to partner with local schools," Pierce said, "as a way of showing our support for the community."

In addition to Pierce, also on hand Tuesday for the bins donation was Molly Kale, the center director at Maryville's Sylvan Learning.

Everyone pitches in

On this special delivery day, students and staff at Mary Blount wore green in support of this clean environment project. Once the mixed paper recycling bins fill up in each classroom, students will be responsible for depositing the paper into larger outdoor recycling containers on the school's property.

There are containers for mixed paper, aluminum cans, newspapers and cardboard, Tuck said. These outdoor containers are accessible to the public, and this school counselor encourages their use. All the money generated from the recycled materials will go back to the school.

By recycling one ton of paper, we save 17 trees, 6,953 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. About 45 percent of the paper Americans use each year is recovered for recycling. The average American uses 650 pounds per year.

Right age

Pierce and Tuck both know this is the right age to get individuals interested in helping the environment. The hope is that it continues throughout their lifetimes.

"These kids are going to grow up not knowing any other type of life," Pierce said. "For people like me, we didn't start recycling until we were in our 20s. This just makes sense."

As the recycle rally ended inside the gym, students hauled off the new bins for new homes inside classrooms. Tuck, pleased with the kickoff, said things are certainly off to a good start.

It's up to the students and staff to keep that momentum building.