Decades of environmental stewardship are paying off for Olney Friends School in the form of a $5,000 grant that will be used to create a new recycling center on campus.
Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority, aka JB Green Team, awarded Olney $5,000 as part of its 2015 grant program. The authority is responsible for implementing a solid waste management plan designed to achieve goals set by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for waste reduction, recycling and reducing reliance on landfills. Its Recycling Initiatives Competitive Funding grant project provides assistance to local townships, villages, cities, schools and nonprofit agencies that demonstrate a benefit to the citizens of Belmont and Jefferson counties.
Olney applied for a Comprehensive Grant and agreed to supply a 20 percent match in the form of in-kind services, such as labor, donated equipment, materials and activities directly related to the project. As a result, the school will rely on volunteer labor to convert the bicycle storage area of the Music Box to a recycling headquarters for the entire campus.
The planned facility will be stocked with multiple bins and a roller table to facilitate the sorting and loading of recyclable materials. The façade of the structure will be renovated and clearly marked as a recycling center. Head of School Ken Hinshaw hopes this project and ongoing efforts to recycle everything from paper to plastics, metals and compostables will increase students’ awareness of the need to make the most of what we have and to care for our environment.
To comply with grant requirements, Olney must complete construction of the recycling center by Dec. 31, 2015. If you are interested in the project or would like to help, email [email protected].
