Children are full of amazing ideas. That has been proven at Griffin Memorial School in Litchfield, New 
Hampshire. During a lesson with Fern Seiden, the school’s guidance counselor, a third grade class suggested starting a bottle recycling program. The students were concerned with the great amount of plastic water bottles that were placed in the trash.
These students knew of the benefits of recycling, as a paper recycling program had been in place at Griffin for several years. This program was created as a joint venture between the Parent-Teacher Organization and some third grade teachers. Using money from the NH is Beautiful program, recycling bins and barrels were purchased.
Encouraged by the students’ excitement, Ms. Seiden took the role of leader for the bottle recycling program. In addition to being a program that would benefit the earth, it would provide opportunities for at-risk youth, allowing them to contribute to their school. As Fern noted, “Children need to feel belonging, responsibility, and independence.” This program would provide that while reducing the amount of trash at school.
Every school year Fern chooses students to assist with her bottle recycling program. These children empty recycling bins, create posters to encourage recycling, and may one day create educational campaigns about reducing waste. For this hard work, the students are rewarded with quarterly parties that bring the group of recyclers together to celebrate their efforts.
Of course, there still are more opportunities for recycling at that school, such as milk carton recycling in the cafeteria. But with the ingenuity and inspiration of children, it seems that someday in the future another group of students will suggest creating a new recycling program.
