Junk pays for school trips

June 16, 2016

Nicole MacPherson and Lily, Corrina Massey, Carol Donnelly, Nancy Carrol and Linda Patterson collected E-waste last week at Coe Hill School. They raised money to support student outings during the school year.

By Jim Eadie

One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, something that couldn’t be more true for the Coe Hill School parent council.
It demonstrated the old proverb as a novel approach to fundraising last week by participating in the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), Ontario’s electronic waste recovery program.

Local residents were invited to bring old TVs, radios, computers, cell phones, and other unwanted electronic items to the school parking lot for collection between June 6 and June 12.
The OES program provided the parent council with a giant bin and picked it up later at no cost.

“Not only is this recycling good for the environment, but we are anticipating being paid $180.00 per ton,” said parent organizer Nancy Carrol. “A full bin that has been well-stacked will weigh up to 6 tons. That’s up to possibly $1000.00. People already have this stuff around and are looking for a way to get rid of it.”

By the last day of collection, the council had gathered a bin full of electronic waste.

The collected material is shipped to an approved processor where it is dismantled. Hazardous materials are removed and sent for further processing. Materials removed for recycling include rare metals, glass, steel, aluminum, copper, and plastics. Recycled plastics, for example, are used to produce irrigation piping and outdoor furniture. Recycled glass is made into new monitors and TVs.

“Everyone has been so helpful, and there has been a lot of support from the community,” said Carrol. “A huge thank you to everyone! The money we raise through the year is used to pay for bussing children to special activities such as sports events, class trips, and a very popular French concert. Everything from here is a trip. Two busses can take the whole school.”

Carrol and her group of parent volunteers are already planning for next year, on the heels on the success of this year’s effort. Carrol said they may have some more recycling tricks up their sleeves.
Coe Hill School principal Corrina Massey was very pleased with the group of parents.

“Trips are very important,” said Massey. “They support the curriculum, take learning outside of the classroom and into action.”

Massey noted this year’s trips included the Peterborough Zoo, and a day at Camp Can-Aqua where students benefited from a day of adventure in the great outdoors.

“I really feel a part of my childrens’ education by helping any way I can,” said volunteer Carol Donnelly, who has two children attending Coe Hill School.

Often Donnelly will come into the school three or four days of the week.

“I just do whatever needs to be done – Food for Learning, help out with trips, or just do the dishes. My children know that mom helps out at their school. That means a lot to them. I feel very welcome here at this school and I hope that it doesn’t close. I won’t be able to volunteer if the kids are sent to Bancroft, it is just too far away.”