Hotchkiss K8 has recycling bug

Hotchkiss fourth graders are making a difference with their Recycle Club. They are taking collected items to the Recycling Center at the North Fork Transfer station.

"This small but mighty group under the direction of Mrs. Oxford will start recycling other items from our school. We are very proud of this group," principal Carrie Coats said.

The entire student body is involved placing items in bins around the school. The students in the Recycle Club sort the school items once a week.

March 29 was their first delivery at the Recycling Center. With Kathryn Oxford were five very enthusiastic students — Shayne Bayless, Elsie Vazquez, Shay Glaser, Justin Schultz and Grey Neal.

The students ran from the van carrying garbage bags full of plastic bottles, broken down cardboard boxes and tubs of papers from the school office up the steps to the platform next to the recycling bins.

Oxford said the program was started by Paul Cranor when the school would take their recyclables to the bins at City Market. When those were removed, the retired teacher drove the school's recyclables to Montrose and Grand Junction.

"We can get a lot of work done and save the planet," Shayne Bayless said. "I think it's really nice they made [the Recyling Center] near our school."

Oxford added, "When you can do this on your Saturday errands and come by here, you don't need a big storage space. That's been our problem at school. We can't collect too much without moving them out."

Justin Schultz said, "I think recycling is really fun. I do it mainly because it helps the earth out."

Grey Neal likes re-using things. "If you're re-using things, you're saving trees. And if you're saving trees, you're saving the world."

Oxford is really pleased at the involvement of everyone at Hotchkiss K-8 and invites other schools who may not have a recycling program to establish one. For more information, call Kathryn Oxford at 872-3325 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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