Santa Cruz ‘green team’ will help you recycle

Santa Cruz Elementary wants to encourage residents and businesses in the city of Maricopa to recycle.

The school plans on having a recycling bin set on its campus so residents can drop off recyclable paper products.

By dropping off their recyclables not only are residents benefiting the environment, they are also benefiting the school.

For each ton of recyclables the school collects the recycling company gives them a monetary donation.

This donation varies, depending on the tonnage donated. For zero to three tons the school gets $5 per ton, from four to seven tons the school receives $15 per ton and for every ton past seven the school gets $20 per ton.

“This is a great opportunity for the school to raise some money and awareness,” said Wendy Buchberger, director of special needs at the school and one of the driving forces behind the recycling program.

However, the school isn’t only relying on people to bring them the recyclables. They are organizing a ‘green team’ to go into the community and pick them up.

“We are going to give people who are interested in recycling a box, and all they need to do is put their recyclable paper products in the box, then put it on the curb on the designated day,” Buchberger said.

The ‘green team’ will then come and pick up these boxes.

Through statistics the school has gathered the founders of the program estimate that if all students recycle twice a month, they can gather seven tons of recyclable paper products.

“The kids really want to get involved and help the planet,” Buchberger said.

Businesses or residents that would like to get involved in the program should contact Buchberger at (520) 568-5170 ext 2235.

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