Schoolchildren, teachers, and parents around the world have risen to the task of building a better tomorrow while adjusting to a “new normal.” While the current situation has thrown everything for a loop, we’ve been inspired by all you rockstars recycling the non-recyclable through our programs! We and the planet thank you.
For some good news, we are thrilled to highlight a longtime participant and top collector for the Entenmann’s Little Bites® Pouch Recycling Program, a free, national recycling program created by Entenmann’s Little Bites® for their range of easy, on-the-go snack pouches: Sylvan Avenue Elementary School in Bayport, NY.
This school is the perfect example of what happens when individual people at a school engage in activities, like recycling, that help the planet and keep trash out of landfills with dedication every day: it adds up! Before the school let out for home learning, Sylvan Avenue Elementary School had collected approximately 15,500 snack pouches!
How did they start toward such a significant milestone? A school typically serving 320 students Pre-K through Grade 5, their participation in the program started with kindergarten teacher Alison Purdy and fellow administrators finding the program to be a holistic way to engage students of different ages around common goals during the school year.
Via Mr. Alison Purdy
“We picked this recycling program for a few reasons,” said Ms. Purdy. “First, we loved that the packages were being recycled and not just thrown into a dump. Also, we love that the money raised could come back to our school. We are always looking for ways to fundraise so that we can provide additional resources or rewarding experiences for our students.”
Collectors in the Entenmann’s Little Bites® Pouch Recycling Program can earn points redeemable for donations to organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic such as Americares and Feeding America, or to their school or nonprofit of their choice. Schools will can redeem for themselves to put resources towards trips and hands-on activities for students.
Purdy and her colleagues saw the value the program would bring to the school, its students, and the greater community, and took a leap. Starting a new program or initiative, such was the case for the school looking to start a new recycling program for items they weren’t recycling before, always begins somewhere. Getting people on board, excited, and involved is key.
“So we sent out a letter explaining what we would like to do, and our school community was extremely supportive! We established several collection bins throughout the school. Families sent in their Little Bites packages from home. And students who brought Little Bites to eat for snacks at school added their packages to the collection bins, too!”
Via Mr. Alison Purdy
In a modern world where local recycling programs are confusing and few items are accepted, helping the planet is not always easy, but it’s worth it! A livable planet for our grandchildren’s children is in our hands, and it’s up to us to work together and support organizations helping schools like Sylvan Avenue Elementary School do the right thing, and help themselves.
Ms. Purdy on the recycling program: “We’re thrilled to be helping the environment and our school at the same time!”
Right now, the school is in session five days a week “but with smaller class sizes and lots of precautions (masks all day, eating in our classrooms, desks 6 feet apart, etc.).” The school hadn’t been collecting since they returned in September, but are considering starting to collect again. “We just want to be sure that we’re doing the “right things” based on Covid. 😣”
When we mentioned in our interview that we’ve been trying to encourage families to collect at home for when collection points, like schools, open again, Ms. Purdy said, “That’s a really great idea! I think I’ll send a letter home to parents with this suggestion. 😊”
Thanks to collectors like Sylvan Avenue Elementary School, Entenmann’s Little Bites® Pouch Recycling Program has saved over 6 million pouches from landfills and donated more than $90,000 to schools and charities, and still counting!
The program continues to collect from individuals, schools, businesses and community organizations interested in recycling the non-recyclable, fundraising for charity, and protecting a cleaner, brighter future for young people.
Join the movement and learn more about the Entenmann’s Little Bites® Pouch Recycling Program here.