Team C.R.O.W.N. arranges an evening discussion with Mrs. Blanchard, JFK teacher and environmental enthusiast

Team C.R.O.W.N. (Community Reduction of Waste Network), a Junior Division Community Problem Solvers Team in the town of Canton arranged an evening discussion with JFK Elementary school 4th grade teacher and an environmental enthusiast Mrs. Blanchard about the reduction of waste in the community at the Canton Public Library on December 1, 2016. She talked to a group of kids and adults from the community on various ideas on how to reduce the waste in the local community. She gave facts about how waste does not always go to a landfill. She mentioned that our town's trash (along with that of 50+ other communities including those on Cape Cod) is burned at a big resource recovery plant (called SEMass) that provides electricity to several thousand households in southeastern MA. She also mentioned that even if a few non-recyclables are mixed with the recyclables, then the recyclables may also go the landfill or the incinerator. She mentioned that residents can not recycle Styrofoam in Canton. There is a list of items which can be recycled in Canton, which is available at http://www.town.canton.ma.us/207/Recycling-Guidelines

In the ensuing Q&A session, responding to a question from the elementary school students, Mrs. Blanchard explained the reduction of waste efforts in various countries and noted that the people in Germany are really particular about the recyclables and non-recyclables. Responding to another question about her involvement in environmental efforts, Mrs.Blanchard mentioned that she really became interested in waste reduction when she was in her twenties. She was part of a volunteer group called Somerville Environmental and Recycling Volunteers, spending a lot of time educating school kids and the community about the importance of reduction of waste. SERV also distributed thousands of blue recycle bins to get curbside recycling going. She felt that their efforts were amazing. So she continues to advocate reduction of waste practices in her classroom and everyday life. In response to another question, she said that instead of Styrofoam trays, Canton School District considered recyclable trays, but could not implement it due to high cost.

For more information on Team C.R.O.W.N, please visit http://teamcrown1617.weebly.com/

This event is organized by the Team C.R.O.W.N: Pranav Addanki, Nishka Baduamada , Aiden Canny, Ben Howe, Ishitha Jaiswal, Andrew McInnis and Isabella Siu