"Solar Panels on Campus" by: Laura Schott

Recently, a grid-tied solar system was installed on campus to power Woody Malot’s physics class room. Funding is a combination of a grant from our parents association, the Gap Connection, and a grant from current parent, Tom Quigley. The system is currently a 500-watt system with room to grow to 3500-watts. It is designed, built, and monitored by the students in ESP (Environmental Stewardship Program). Mr. Malot will use the data from the panels for labs in both the concepts of physics class and the AP physics class. A goal is to install other types of panels in the future to compare panel efficiency and develop a model of what works well here at RGNS

Wasting Plastic: Why Can't We Recycle All of It? by: M.C. Phillips

This week I dove in to try and find some answers about why our recycling center won't take those pesky #5 yogurt cartons and other plastics not marked with a #1 or #2. I spoke with Rabun County's Recycling Director, Tim Browning. He was able to share a lot of information over the phone about exactly where Rabun County stands, as far as recycling and the potential for incorporating more. Below are a few of the important facts he was able to share.

The bottom line is this: WE MUST CREATE AWARENESS AND CONVINCE OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT ALLOWING FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE RECYCLING DEPARTMENT TO RAISE MORE MONEY FOR THE GENERAL BUDGET!!

In answer to the question about recycling plastics higher than #2:

1. 1-6 could be recycled if we could find a buyer. Right now there isn’t enough recycling collected to require a buyer for #3-#6.

2. We have increased our sales of recycling material from 95,000 lbs in 2006 to 104,000 in 2007, so it is getting more popular. In the last 6 months we’ve done 75,000. That’s huge! That’s because of our efforts!

3. $58,000.00 saved by recycling and 60-70,000 lbs saved from landfill just this year.

4. Recycling is the only department under the Waste mgmt. that is actually making money for the government’s general budget.

Ways to get there:

1. Convince “powers that be” that recycling more not only brings in more government money, but decreases waste costs.

2. They have worked out an agreement with the public schools for next year’s budget where they will pick up TIN, CARDBOARD, MIXED PAPER, and PLASTICS.

3. The recycling department HAS the trucks and equipment necessary for pick-up to do neighborhood and AT LEAST school pick ups.

4. People to write: (Those “powers that be”)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JIM BLECKLEY – County Administrator
(Contacts found at: http://www.rabuncountygov.com/rabun_county_board_of_commission.htm)

Ask them to fund the recycling pick up by recognizing the money that the volume would bring in and save for the county. In doing this, we will increase our numbers and therefore be able to sell to a larger buyer, thus including #1-6.

Bioplastics:
Corn starch and sugar cane Styrofoam imitators!! They are compostable! Some research will need to be conducted to find out the possibilities of bulk trays and biodegradable eating utensils. According to Tim Browning, these are not much more expensive than regular Styrofoam.

Manual About Recycling:
There is a manual at Bogg’s Mountain waste management facility, where Mr. Browning works. It might be useful as it shares exactly what happens to our recycling once it is collected at the center. Mr. Browning is also willing to give tours, or talk with groups or individuals at any time.