Franklin Lakes Kids Celebrate Earth Day!

Did you know the average American makes 4 to 6 pounds of trash everyday? Third and fourth grade students at Colonial Road School should. 

For Earth Day, students learned about recycling from a teacher at GreenSky Industries, the company that handles the borough's recycling. Kathleen Arciero, an education specialist taught the kids the why and hows of recycling. 

What can be recycled? 

All paper and anything with the recycling symbol on it. It doesn't matter what number the plastic is, Green Sky will collect it. 

What should I do before recycling food containters? 

Give them a quick rinse to minimize any food residue. (Some one has to sort through all of the containers to make sure the right containers go to the right place. If we wash the containers first, it makes their day nicer.)

Really, I can recycle that soup box?

Yes, those boxes of soup or milk —called tetrapack—can be recycled. Put them in the co-mingled container.  Anything that has a recycling triangle is accepted. 

What happens next? 

Materials are sorted, baled into squares (like hay) then loaded onto containers and sent to Port Newark to be shipped — either domestically or internationally— to a factory where they will be "reborn" as something else. 

What should Franklin Lakes families do for Earth Day? 

• Recycle at least one item (everyday!)
• Walk somewhere instead of driving (to the store, to school, to church on Easter!)
• Plant something!
• Reduce electricity: turn off the lights when you leave the room.
• Save water: Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth or doing dishes
• Start composting
• Talk it up! Get the whole family involved. 

For more Earth Day things to do with your kids, Green Sky's Kids Blog. 

And for some great Earth Day Freebies, check out this article.