The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 43 million tons of paper was recycled in 2009. How significant is paper in our lives? More than 10,000 sheets of paper are used each year by the average office worker. This number doesn’t include newspaper, telephone books and magazines that we use everyday.
With each commodity used, we encourage you to reuse, reduce and recycle. One way to reuse paper is by shredding it and using it when packing a box to be mailed. Spent paper can also be used as a scratch pad or to write your to-do list. To reduce the paper your office or home uses, request that magazines remove your name from their mailing list. Another way is to lessen the amount of emails and articles you print off your computer.
Perhaps the simplest way to be responsible with your paper is by recycling what has been used. Twice a year, the East Alabama Recycling Partnership hosts a document-shredding event. The paper collected is shredded and sent to Kimberly Clark to make tissue. Other products that can be made from paper are masking tape, bandages, coffee filters and copy paper. The newspaper page you are reading can be dropped off at one of Opelika’s five drop-off centers for recycling.
There is another paper product that most households have that can be recycled: telephone books. The expired telephone books in your den, kitchen and car should be recycled each year. Aimed at encouraging our students to recycle, each school will be collecting expired phone books Nov. 15 through Dec. 15. The competition is steep, and the prizes are big. The school that collects the most receives $1,000 in prize money. The second-place school gets a check for $700, and third place will receive $500. We encourage you to participate in this program. Outdated telephone books can be given to students to turn in or dropped off at a local school.
Last week, I told you about other efforts our schools are making to encourage students to recycle. By engaging all citizens in these efforts, we are setting an example as responsible adults. Your participation also allows these programs to succeed.
Opelika High School is in the running for a grant from Clorox. Funds received through the grant will allow the school to build an outdoor classroom. This classroom will expand learning beyond the walls of the school and allow every department to engage the outdoors in their teaching. You can vote at www.powerabrightfuture.com.
Our programs in the schools are successful because of the principals, teachers and support staff. The Keep Opelika Beautiful Liaison Teachers this year are Kathy Brown, Southview Primary; Morgan Hilyer and Robyn Underwood, Carver Primary; Laura Lambert, Jeter Primary; Amy Foster, West Forest Intermediate; Lori Shaw, Northside Intermediate; Cindy Mirarchi, Morris Avenue Intermediate; Melissa Cherry, Opelika Middle; and AnnaLee Gardener, Opelika High. These teachers have new and exciting programs planned for this year.
Tipi Colley Miller is the director of Keep Opelika Beautiful Inc.
Source: oanow.com