School?s top student asks the county for help in starting recycling program
Onaway senior Echoe Bouta is trying to establish a recycling program at the high school. She is seeking funding to get the program off the ground and a recycling bin to place on school property.
Bouta started her efforts in February when she approached the Onaway Area Community Schools Board of Education, but now has turned to the county board because they are already operate a county-wide recycling program.
Former county commissioner Wayne Vermilya has been assisting the student by providing her with contact people in the industry. ?She has been researching the issue the last couple of months in her spare time,? said Vermilya when he went before the board last Friday and introduced Bouta.
WHAT INSPIRED the school?s top student were the items being thrown in the trash. She did a survey and found that 2,100 reams of paper were being thrown away and since the school doesn?t sell pop anymore the juice and water bottles were getting tossed as well.
Bouta said she would like to see paper and No. 1 and No. 2 plastics recycled.
?When I took this to the school board, if they did put a bin in, the only problem is that they would not want it open to all county residents,? she said.
Bouta contacted county prosecutor Don McLennan on if it would be legal for the county to fund a program in the school, but not have it open to the public. ?He said it was legal for the county
CHAIRMAN ALLAN BRUDER said there are two county recycling bins located in North Allis and Allis townships.
Bouta said the school?s zoology/botany class would be involving in assisting her. Bouta talked with the teacher of the class ?and she offered to help out to make sure that nothing got put in the bin that should not be.?
?Would you come back with some type of a management plan, on how it would operate and how it would run?? asked Commissioner Stephen Lang. Bouta said she would. Bruder said the county commission would take the request under advisement.
Later in the meeting, Bouta?s efforts were commended by county drain commissioner Charles Lyon, who was in attendance to present his annual report.