By Kendall Patterson
Staff Writer
Recycling Hub adds on education/observation classroom
What better way would it be for students to understand the importance of recycling than to have them see the recycling process in person while they are young.
The new Education and Observation Room of the West Tennessee Regional Recycling Hub allows students and even adults to learn about recycling in a new manner.
In the classroom, students and others who visit learn about recycling, landfills, litter prevention, composting and our environment.
The class room was built with a Special Litter TDOT grant of $181,693.00 received by the Recycling Center in 2019.
The classroom is now open, but they are still adding more activities for students that will enhance their ability to understand all the concepts.
When it’s completely finished, there will be 4-5 stations set up in the classroom. The stations will follow the STEM curriculum and will be hands-on activities for students visiting the Hub.
Additionally, there will be a kiosk that will show an educational video/ cartoon and have i-pads attached to it for students to play games.
There are two observation windows in the classroom to watch the recycling being processed.
Previously, Amber Greene, Recycling Coordinator & Executive Director of Keep Chester County Beautiful, and Misti Pequignot, Education Coordinator would have to travel to schools to educate students on recycling.
That being said, it’s not just beneficial for students to see everything in person and do activities related to recycling, but Greene and Pequignot can do it conveniently at the Hub.
Danny Benard, The Solid Waste Director and Greene have talked about this classroom for the last 10 years.
“We are excited about the new classroom at the Hub and how it is going to help promote Recycling and Litter Prevention education in rural West Tennessee,” Greene said.
“There is definitely a need to educate the public on recycling, landfills, and litter prevention
hopefully this classroom will fill the gap to education future generations,” Benard said.”
The classroom is just one of the many feats the Recycle Hub leaders have accomplished.
The Recycling Hub received over 8 grants in 2018 and 2019 totaling over 1.5 million dollars and over 5 million dollars since 2010.
It also received three awards last year: a National award for improving recycling in rural areas, having the number one Litter Grant Education and Outreach program in Tennessee and placing third with the best Affiliate award for Keep Chester County Beautiful.
