Earth Day at Jacks Valley Elementary School

MINDEN, Nev.

On Earth Day Jacks Valley Elementary School was a busy place. Douglas Disposal came out and spoke with the kids about recycling and how important it is so we won't fill up our landfills as much. Third-grader Cody Black said they melt down the plastic recyclables and make it into a thread to make our clothes.

There was also a visit to the Bruce Peterson Park and Habitat where the students learned lots of things. Taylor Lane, fourth grade, said she learned about the Sequoia tree and how it doesn't even become an adult until it is 3,000 years old. Jacob Dellavedova in fourth grade said the bitterbrush is the most important forage plant for the mule deer to feed on in the winter. Matthew Hill, fourth grade, says the trees that have fallen down and are rotting produce carbon dioxide which trees absorb and then the trees produce the oxygen we need to breathe. Conrad Brockett, fourth grade, says butterflies can see colors we humans can only see with an ultraviolet light. William Cullen, sixth grade, learned that Lake Lahontan used to cover most of Nevada and some of California. Dana Kauffman, sixth grade, said only queen ants have wings and can fly. Gary Crocker who is the head custodian talked to the students about how much trash the school generates from lunch. Something like six full trash cans a day. Mrs. Kamholtz third-grade class went for a hike around the sagebrush outside the school grounds and picked up four trash bags of trash. Way to go!

Recycle bins

Around the Valley I know of two locations that have recycling bins that Douglas Disposal picks up regularly. There is one at the west end of Jacks Valley Elementary School and one on Buckeye at the new Bently fuel station. They accept tin cans, plastic that is stamped with the triangle and glass. Remember to wash them out. Most of the elementary schools accept newspapers and plastic shopping bags. Off Airport Road there is a company that will pick up your recyclables for about $10 per month right at your curb.

A few months ago, my family made a commitment to recycle just to save on trash. I am sure you have read in my columns in the past that our first step to keep trash at a minimum was by purchasing a trash compactor. It actually reduced the volume of trash we make by 75 percent. Now that we are recycling as much as possible, we are now generating only one trash compactor bags a week. Let's do our best to recycle as much as possible.

Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.