Student Groups Hoping To Reinstate Recycling In Schools

In October of 2008, a fire started by a vandal spread from the recycling bins outside the to the structure itself. Though significant damage was done to the exterior of the building, the sprinkler system kept the fire from burning inside.

The incident had an unexpected consequence: the end of recycling in . Students had successfully petitioned for a recycling program in 2006 with presentations to the Board of Education and the City Council, and each class was equipped with a blue bin for paper and green bins outside to be picked up by recycling trucks. With the fire, however, the outside bins were deemed a hazard and removed.

“There was no way to get the individual classroom paper into the recycling truck,” said Jody Barthel, who has taught in New London for 30 years and currently works as a School Enrichment Model Initiative teacher.

Barthel, along with several teachers and students within the district, hopes the recycling program can be reinstated. She said that by state law, the schools should be participating and could be subject to a fine by the Department of Environmental Protection. On April 29, about 150 students from grades three through 12 marched on City Hall to make presentations to members of the City Council. Among the pledges to combat littering and conserve water, they presented a petition with about 80 signatures asking for the return of recycling to their classrooms.

“Even though we’re the little people marching, the kids together had a big voice and the mayor and the City Council were very receptive,” said Barthel.

Barthel said no petition was made to the Board of Education since they approved the idea in 2006. She said the signatures were taken from students in the SEMI program and  environmental clubs rather than the student population. Discussions have been ongoing with the , sanitation department, and other officials.

Stephanie Morton, service learning coordinator with New London Public Schools, said she has been doing service learning programs with students since 2000 and has put a strong focus on environmental stewardship. She partnered with Barthel in the recycling effort.

“I think that both the teachers and the students have shown great dedication to making a difference in the community, and I’m very excited by what I saw that day,” she said.

Barthel said the hope is to have recycling bins back in the schools by the start of the 2011-2012 academic year, but more work is needed in the meantime. Dr. Nicholas Fischer, superintendent of the New London Public Schools, estimates that it will cost about $25,000 to install platforms for the bins away from the schools and purchase the bins themselves.

“I’m totally in support of doing it,” he said. “I think the issue now is getting the funds for a platform for each of the schools.”

Calvin Darrow, fire marshal with the New London Fire Prevention District, said precautions need to be in place to avoid a repeat of the Jennings fire. He said one option would be to have containers placed under lock and key in rooms with fire sprinklers. Another option would be to purchase containers rated for flammability, smoke, and other factors.

“I understand they’re about five times as expensive as the green containers the city uses,” he said.

Darrow said the staff is largely responsible for precautionary measures. He said the fire department responded to two fires in recycling containers at the Jennings School before the major 2008 fire, and that the bins were to be located away from the school after the second one caused some damage to the sidewalk and building. Darrow said the bins must have been moved back to the side of the building before the third blaze.

“There’s a lot of different proposals on the table,” said Darrow. “I’m just not sure what they want to propose and how it will work.”