The Salem Community High School Green Team electronics recycling drive on Friday collected an estimated 14,000 pounds of electronic items to be recycled.
Sponsor Drew Johnson says that filled nearly 30 pallets and a semi-trailer.
“It started it a little slow, we think the weather kept people away, but once we got up and running it has been a steady stream of individuals, a lot of small businesses, and local schools have brought antiquated equipment. We’ve had a couple of trailer loads at different times and we’re happy to help.”
Johnson says they receive money for some of the recyclables that fund the work of the Green Team throughout the year to reduce other items going into the landfill from the high school, such as paper, ink cartridges, and batteries.
“The main goal is to reduce the amount of landfill we create. With a building this big and this many students, as part of the function of our building, we create a lot of waste.”
Johnson says there are currently five students who are the core of the Green Team, a number he hopes to grow in the future. However, he reported a lot of other student volunteers who assisted in unloading vehicles and getting the pallets of recyclables into the semi-trailer.
Student volunteers unloading one of the many vehicles arriving with no longer wanted electronic items. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Students worked to separate electronic items into separate boxes to take the recycling facility. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
By the time the drive was over, this semi-trailer was loaded with nearly 30 pallets of recyclable electronics. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
