Published: May 13, 2008 02:57 pm            

Recycling program helps schools turn cans into cash

AVON, Ind — A simple toss of a can is all it takes for Avon students to raise money for their schools.

Along with Wayne and Decatur Townships, Avon Community Schools participate in Aluminum Cans for Education, a free recycling program started by Schaffer Recycling owner Tony Schaffer in March of 2007. Schaffer finances the program personally and does not charge participating schools. All he asks is that they mention the program in their school or class newsletters.

“I decided to start up the program during the property tax fiasco,” Schaffer said. “I know during that time a lot of schools were having trouble raising funds for different activities. I also started the program to help the environment.”

Blue recycling bins are placed in the schools’ parking lots and Schaffer Recycling employees maintain the bins. Participating schools keep 20 percent of the revenue generated from recycling the cans.

“Revenue is greater when the kids are in school and it drops off a bit during the summer,” Schaffer said. “Wayne Township last year made a little over $1,700 and they started in March 2007.”

For Avon’s Hickory Elementary School, participating in Aluminum Cans for Education has paid off. The school recently received a $400 check for collecting the most cans in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Earth Day Recycling Contest.

“We don’t allow the kids to go out and put cans in by themselves because the containers are so close to the street,” Hickory secretary Robin Morgan said. “So they typically bring in cans to us in the office and we put them out in the bins.”

As of last week, Aluminum Cans For Education has collected and recycled 10,700 pounds of cans. Schaffer said the program will likely not broaden to include newspapers and bottles, but it has expanded to local churches such as Avon Parkside Church of the Nazarene, Brownsburg Apostolic Bible Church, and Westlake Community Church of God.

“So far, so good,” Schaffer said. “We have three school districts right now and have talked to Brownsburg, so hopefully we’ll get them in place before the next school year starts.”



Kevin Leibrock writes for the Hendricks County Flyer in Avon, Ind.

        

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