Recycling project helps conserve water in District 157-C

A project being conducted by student volunteers is encouraging District 157-C students to recycle and conserve water. The recycling project takes place during the lunch periods at Grand Prairie Elementary, Chelsea Intermediate and Hickory Creek Middle School. The three schools have an enrollment of about 2,500 students.

The water recycling project leader Ela Eames graduated from Hickory Creek two years ago and is currently a sophomore at Lincoln-Way East High School. Her younger sister Leyla is currently an 8th grader at Hickory Creek. Volunteering runs in the family as their mother, Nesli Eames, has served on the 157-C Athletic Booster Board for the past five years. Ela and her mom came up with the idea for an independent recycling project that could help conserve and put water back into the environment.

Mrs. Eames had noticed during Athletic Booster hot lunch days that after lunch many students were throwing away their water bottles with water still remaining in them. Ela reached out to District 157-C Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni stating that she would like to volunteer to head the new recycling project. Dr. Zinni thought it was a great idea and gave her the go-ahead to begin after winter break.

The project officially began January 8th and new recycling cans were placed at each of the three schools. Ela and four of her friends, Abby McCreary, Zoe Sterr, Kylie Lazzo, and Kira Martin, began the recycling. The girls have also recently been getting help from Frankfort Girl Scout Troop 75187, which is welcome since it takes about an hour to collect the water at each school. Girl Scouts include Abby Grant, Lucy Howroyd, Dani Schedin, Valerie Scaletta, Cecelia Koleno, Delaney Fritz, Giovanna Roche, Rori Hertsberg, Elsie Thomas and Bella Aguilar.

Every Monday after school the girls collect the recycling cans containing the bottles of water and measure out how much is saved. After the measurements, they recycle the water back into the tower garden growing systems at Grand Prairie which were obtained through a grant from the 157-C Education Foundation. Their final step is to count the number of bottles and recycle them.

The project has been a huge success. To date they have collected a total of 9,639 water bottles and about 329 gallons of water. Ela stated, “I’ve loved to work on this as it grows and we help conserve so much in water and water bottles.”

Dr. Zinni is pleased with the recycling project and the hard work of Ela and her volunteers. She stated, “It is very exciting to see our former students grow and develop into responsible young adults who are passionate about social responsibility and respect for our environment. The actions of these young volunteers will benefit our community for many years to come. I am very proud of Ela and her fellow volunteers.”