By FHS senior D’Mitri Hodnett, Eagle Beat staff reporter
The Fairfield High School Recycle Club held the 2017 One Stop Recycle Drop community recycle event on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the FHS bus loop and parking lot.
Volunteers included teachers, students, and community, including Russell Keaton, Jeannie Keeney, Jason Scott, Gary Wiggins, Sue Casey, and Scott Grow.
“It was great,” teacher and program sponsor Nicole Crawford said. “All of our volunteers were a huge help. It was a total success thanks to all the wonderful recyclers in our community.”
The community recycle event is sponsored as a partnership between the Fairfield ISD Recycle Team, Fairfield History Club, FHS and FJH Interact Club, FHS Family and Community Services Class, FUMC Youth, Detective Bill Madding, NRG Energy – Limestone Plant, Waste Connections, Fairfield Rotary Club, Teen Library Corps, and the City of Fairfield. Freestone County Pct 1 Constable Buck Bonner provided the medicine disposal.
“We really appreciate our sponsors for helping make this possible,” Crawford said. “This kind of thing is important to all people in the community and it’s great knowing that means our businesses and organizations as well.”
The event’s resulting collection includes: 60 pair of eyeglasses to be donated to the Lions Club, 8047 pounds of electronics to URT, 20 gallons of batteries, 700 pounds of glass, 800 pounds of textiles for donation, 50 pairs of shoes, 6.78 tons of paper, cardboard, plastic to Waste Connections, Inc, 10 gallons of medication for proper disposal, and 5 boxes of books donated to the Fairfield Library.
“I think contributing to the community is very important.” freshman Colton Granberry said. “Regularly helping to make our world a better place is something that should be on everyone’s minds.”
Monthly recycle events are also hosted. The next monthly recycle event will be December 23. Acceptable items for monthly recycling include paper, plastic, metal, and glass.
“The monthly recycles held get good enough attention, but these recycle drops we don’t do very often are where it really feels like we’re doing something,” freshman Colton Granberry said. “There’s so many more people and so much more to get done.”
NRG Energy helped supply gloves, pallets, and shrink wrap for the volunteers to use and funding for the event. The NRG Limestone Plant also donated an additional $2000 in funds to support the One Stop Drop Recycle Program.
“It is reassuring to know so many people care about recycling,” junior Aaryn Scires said. “A lot of people showed up with recyclables and books that could’ve ended up thrown away otherwise.”
Volunteer help is always accepted for any recycle event.
“I like to volunteer my help in recycling and community events like this so that I can at least say I helped the world in some way,” junior Aaryn Scires said. “Even though it may seem small, at least I can say that I helped.”
NOTE: Next Recycle Event is Saturday, December 23rd
Upcoming monthly recycle dates are 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, and Mar. 24. Acceptable monthly items include paper, cardboard, tin, aluminum cans, plastic & glass (please remove lids from glass and separate glass from other items).
For more information, contact Nicole Crawford at FHS 903-389-4177 or via email to Nicole.Crawford@fairfieldisd.org
Sign up for recycle reminders by texting @ffrecycle to 469-425-2522.
