Belleville Middle School Students Get Hands on With Recycling

Belleville Middle School eighth grade science class students recently created paper using recycled materials.

Dave Alexander from the Essex County Environmental Center visited the school to show how some materials disposed of as trash can get a second life.

Alexander explained how certain things students might throw out or litter can take thousands of years to decay. For example, an aluminum can might take 100 years to decompose.  

Alexander stressed the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. He also demonstrated and defined upcycling, which is finding a new use for something previously considered trash. Science teacher Mrs. Sarah O'Farrell showed her personal example of upcycling: her purse made from 32 plastic water bottles. Student Katrina Dizon also joined in, showing classmates her pencil case made from old magazines.  

Using a blender, water, and paper from the copy room's recycling bin, students enjoyed creating new paper. The new paper was next going to be put to use in another project. More upcycling was demonstrated when students used "trash" to create labeled models of protists. By incorporating the rigorous Common Core in their science classes, the science teachers are exposing the students to a depth and breadth of knowledge and skills necessary for the 21st century.