Recycling For Education
By Larry Snodgrass
General Manager of Schnitzer Steel Hawaii Corp.
What do 32,000 pounds of confidential documents, 25 gallons of used cooking oil, 2,000 pounds of batteries and 9,080 pounds of metal have in common?
Those are just a part of the recyclable material collected at the first Aloha ‘Aina Recycling Drive of 2013. The drives have been some of Oahu’s most popular recycling events, raising more than $200,000 for schools and charities since we established them in 2004.
Schnitzer Steel Hawaii Corp. is proud to team up with Kokua Hawaii Foundation to revitalize and relaunch the drives this year. Kokua Hawaii Foundation is the nonprofit group formed by noted musician Jack Johnson and wife Kim that supports environmental education in Hawaii’s schools and communities. We believe this partnership embodies the strengths and environmental philosophies of both organizations.
The first 2013 Aloha ‘Aina Recycling Drive was held Jan. 26 at Niu Valley Middle School, and it was an amazing success. Thousands of pounds of documents were turned in to be shredded, along with gallons of cooking oil for biodiesel, mounds of metal and bins of batteries. We also collected household goods, computers and mixed electronic
items, aluminum, glass and plastics. Literally tons of recyclable material came in – all to improve our neighborhoods and the environment while saving precious space in our landfills.
Our second drive Feb. 9 at Kahuku High School also was a smashing success. Both host schools received proceeds from the sale of the recycled materials gathered.
Don’t miss our next recycling drives at Kaelepulu Elementary School in Kailua (March 9), Moanalua Elementary School (April 6) and Mililani Uka Elementary School (May 4). For more information, visit kokuahawaiifoundation.org.
