Kids Crush, Stomp Cans to Recycle
SACRAMENTO - Genevieve Didion School students, parents and faculty stomped, crushed and recycled their bottles and cans at the "California Can Crush" event -- a recycling drive hosted by the Department of Conservation on Saturday, April 5.
Families and friends brought their collected bottles and cans to Genevieve Didion to raise money for school programs and signed a recycling pledge agreeing to increase recycling efforts in the future. Bridget Luther, director of the DOC, was on hand to mix and mingle with participating families, educate attendees about the importance of recycling and offer tips on simple ways to recycle at home. The DOC mascot, Recycle Rex, was also on site to encourage the young students to participate in the day's activities.
"Children are some of society's strongest influencers, and they are able to pass valuable messages along to their parents and friends," said Luther. "We believe that teaching children responsible recycling habits early will have a positive impact on the amount of recycling our society does in the future."
After dropping off their beverage containers with the recycling volunteers, attendees participated in a "can crush" -- a minute-long activity with participating students on a mission to stomp and crush hundreds of aluminum cans in under one minute. The "can crush" proved to be the highlight of the event, drawing enthusiastic participation.
The Sacramento California Crush garnered almost 6,000 beverage containers that were processed by the Sacramento Local Conservation Corps. In recognition of the school's tremendous efforts to conserve, the SLCC will use proceeds from the beverage containers to make a donation to the Genevieve Didion K-8 School for its education programs. California Refund Value is a nickel for containers less than 24 ounces and a dime for containers 24 ounces and larger. Sacramento consumers can locate nearby recycling redemption centers by visiting www.bottlesandcans.com and entering their zip code. Many Sacramento area residents can also recycle their bottles and cans and other materials using city or county curbside recycling pickup.
The California Can Crush Event at Genevieve Didion is the second of three can crush recycling events scheduled for this spring. With the help of the California State Parent Teacher's Association, the DOC recently hosted the "Can Crush" recycling event in San Francisco last month, and made a stop in San Diego on Saturday, April 12.
These events will serve to educate families throughout California on the benefits of beverage container recycling and encourage increased recycling habits. More information about the California Refund Value program is available at www.bottlesandcans.com.
In addition to promoting beverage container recycling, the DOC maps and studies earthquakes and other geologic phenomena; classifies areas containing mineral deposits; ensures reclamation of land used for mining; regulates oil, gas and geothermal wells; and administers agricultural and open-space land conservation programs.