Celebrate Earth Day every day.
That’s the lifestyle Michele Parsons says she encourages students to live.
To that end, she and students have recycled thousands of ‘e-waste? items, like empty printer ink cartridges and old cell phones, and raised nearly $4,500 in two years doing it.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) member and environmentally-conscious mother of two at Stadium Drive distributes collection boxes all over the village and townships, and hands any turned in e-waste over to companies that recycle it in exchange for money.
‘It’s a win-win situation for everybody,? she said.
Funds are raised year-round and go toward sending students on field trips and fulfilling teacher wish lists.
‘It’s one way to continue to keep going on the field trips that some schools have had to cut,? said Parsons.
She says the goal every year is to exceed the previous year’s revenues, but numbers are lower than in the past and Parsons blames the poor economy.
‘Everything’s down a little bit, so it’s going to affect us,? she said, noting that companies with less business will obviously not go through supplies as often.
Parsons says she likes to keep her business local. That’s why she takes empty printer cartridges to locally-owned Cartridge World. Owner Bob Mott offers $1 for each ink jet cartridge and $3 for laser cartridges.
Each spring, students blossom into busy recycling beavers when the PTA holds their annual e-waste recycling contest.
Though the recycling program is year-long, Parsons says the number of items brought in for recycling skyrockets with a little friendly competition.
So far, students have turned in around 270 items, down from last year’s 464. Right now, Mrs. Haddad’s class, room 209, is in first place with 101 items. Ms. Lavin’s class, room 201, is in second with 41 items.
The class that turns in the most items gets a trophy, recycled bookmarks and pencils. Each student who brings in an item is entered into a drawing to see Disney’s ‘Ocean’s,? opening Earth Day, April 22. The day also marks the end of the competition.
Interested in donating e-waste?
Parsons can take OEM inkjet and laser printer cartridges, MP3 players, PDAs, cell phones, laptop and notebook computers, radar detectors, portable GPS units, scientific and graphing calculators, hand-held game consoles, digital cameras and digital video cameras. Items should be placed in their original packaging or in a sealed plastic bag.
For more details and drop-off points, contact Parsons at 248-693-1982.