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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Albert Leonard Middle School student Nick Fazio recycled his lunch trash into the appropriate containers this week as part of the three day old ALMS Cafeteria Recycling Program. This has reduced the schools daily trash bag count from 18 to four.
Its a lot about the environment and sorting, said Fazio. A lot of places are being green, he said. Were trying to recycle as much as we can so that we can help the environment to stop garbage, he said.
The school district of New Rochelle is the first in Westchester County to recycle plastic foam trays, and one of the first in the country, according to Ward Parent Teacher Association member and recycling program organizer Anna Giordano. The success led three other city schools in the city's district to jump on board with the program, after Giordano presented it to them at the end of last school year.
These included Albert Leonard Middle School and Barnard Early Childhood Center, thanks to the successful efforts of Giordano. Others have begun to follow suit as well including Jefferson and Trinity Elementary Schools.
Giordano negotiated a deal in October with single-use food container company DART, which encourages recycling of the plastic foam food containers it sells to collect the 5,000 trays the school district uses, at no cost to the city or the schools.
A double-sided station is set up in the back of schools cafeteria where students trash and liquids, hard plastics, paper products, soft plastics, juice pouches, aluminum foil, drink containers, cans, bottles and styrofoam trays.
School staff selects volunteers to help with the efforts on daily basis. ALMS PTA member Lily DiLeo assists Giordano in working with schools throughout the district appreciates the students help. Theyre pretty helpful, she said.
One ALMS student volunteer Zachary Little has comprehended the message. Its (about) helping other people, he said.
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