Improving Ashland High School's Sustainability Profile: Eagle Recycling Project

User: ngerlovin@icloud.com

Vendor: None

Action: 3673 - Reduce the Use of Plastics

One thing I realized as a student at the Ashland Public Schools is that the cafeterias, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and fields often lack a place to recycle empty bottles.  As a Boy Scout looking for a way to improve the town's sustainability profile, I decided to use my Eagle Scout Project as an opportunity to improve recycling in my community.

Working with the Ashland High School Principal, Ms. Kelly St. Coeur, and the Ashland Sustainability Program Manager, Ms. Samantha Riley, we came up with a plan for me to create a receptacle for recycling and composting inside the high school.  Unfortunately, the Ashland School Committee wasn't ready for composting in the schools yet, but the idea of a durable, aesthetic, and mobile structure to hold recycling bins for the cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium was approved -- given it was made of composite materials.

After finalizing my designs and leading a fundraising effort for over $2500 of materials needed to build the structure (a huge thank you to Ashland Lumber, TLC Painting, Lowe's Milford, Monnick Supply, and family), I led a team of Boy Scouts to construct and install the receptacle at the High School in late Fall of 2024.  The recycling bin will be emptied by student volunteers in the AHS Environmental Action Club.

Improving the sustainability of the Ashland Public Schools is important and I am hopeful that the recycling structure that I built will be the first of many.