Bags for Bears
Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Bag Recycling Program
What is Bags for Bears ?
Back by popular demand plastic bag recycling will begin on October 1st, Trex, a composite lumber company, Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division and Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services (Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail) will be challenging Clarke County schools to collect plastic bags for recycling and for the bears.
Last year eleven schools participated and collected 396,561bags OR over 6,280 pounds (3.14 tons) of plastic wrap. This year our goal is 405,000 bags or 6,500 pounds of plastic wrap. If the goal is met Trex will donate lumber to Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail for much needed playscapes for the bears (Josie and DJ), bobcats (Danielle and Katie) and otters (Penny and Corky). The playscapes will enhance the animal’s environments and provide them with mental and physical stimulation. Additionally, the top five producing schools will receive special prizes from ACC Recycling Division. The final bag count will be due to ACC Recycling Division on Wednesday, January 9, 2008.
Classroom teachers who would like to participate should contact Suki Janssen in the ACC Recycling Division at (706) 613-3512, before Thursday, September 27th to receive collection boxes and additional collection information.
Trex, ACC Recycling Division and ACC Leisure Services are thrilled to extend this challenge to the students of Clarke County. Please participate in the second annual bag recycling program, Bags for Bears. ** This is a Green School Activity.
Why recycle bags?
Trex utilizes millions of plastic grocery store bags each year to create its composite lumber product (a sample will be sent to your school), keeping this material out of landfills locally and across the country. Visit www.trex.com for additional information about the Trex Company.
What is accepted in this recycling program?
• Plastic grocery bags
• Newspaper bags (dry)
• Dry cleaner bags
• Plastic wrap around paper towels and toilet paper
• Small amounts of bubble wrap
•
Stretch film (usually around pallets of material) not plastic wrap for food
ALL BAGS MUST BE DRY AND CLEAN!!
How do I join the challenge?
Each participating teacher is asked to keep a record of the number of bags their class brings in for the program. One teacher in each school must keep a record of the school count and submit a monthly update to Suki Janssen at suki@acc-recycle.org . – see the attached bag recycling tally sheet.
How do I get the bags to the recycling facility?
The bags must be placed in larger bags for collection – preferably clear bags. The bags will be collected on Friday ONLY. The coordinating teacher should contact the ACC Recycling Division by Thursday afternoon for a Friday pick-up. The bags must be in or near the front office for collection by 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste employees will be collecting the bags so please make sure the bags are ready for collection (i.e.: make sure front office staff is aware of the location of the bags for easy pick-up). Additionally, the bags can be dropped off any time Monday – Friday during the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the ACC Recycling facility at 699 Hancock Industrial Way, Athens, 30605.
For additional information, contact Suki Janssen at (706) 613-3512.