Kapa‘a High School’s afternoon class, Connect to the World, sponsored by PAAC (Pacific and Asian Affairs Council) became concerned about the importance of recycling after studying megacities of Asia and the impacts of pollution. Students met with Bill Tarman-Ramcheck,
Kapa‘a High School’s afternoon class, Connect to the World, sponsored by PAAC (Pacific and Asian Affairs Council) became concerned about the importance of recycling after studying megacities of Asia and the impacts of pollution.
Students met with Bill Tarman-Ramcheck, the Recycling Coordinator for the County of Kaua‘i, and took on the daunting task of compiling the results of all the surveys on recycling that people had completed during the Kaua‘i County Fair in August 2008.
“I had no idea that so many people on Kaua‘i recycled”, said PAAC student Kaylee Belmonte.
Results show that 99 percent of the people who completed the survey recycle at least some times; and 65 percent always recycle.
“And it is encouraging to know that people care about the beauty of Kaua‘i”, added student Sunny Ohlen. More than half of the survey respondents said they recycle to keep Kaua‘i beautiful and keep things out of the landfill.
“It’s really amazing how unaware some people are of the recycling programs we do have here on Kaua‘i,” said student Chloe Sorey.
Over a quarter of the people surveyed who don’t or only sometimes recycle said the reason is they don’t know what can or can’t be recycled.
“I don’t understand why more people don’t recycle when we know how much damage is caused by pollution and dumping garbage,” said student Patrick Kavanagh.
“Hopefully, as more people become aware of the need for recycling on our island and on our planet, it will simply become a way of life,” added PAAC teacher, Chris Farina.
Many surveyed people agree as over 40 percent want curbside recycling, extra recycling drop bins and education in the schools.
Bill Tarman-Ramcheck reminded students to follow the slogan of, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” and to buy recycled goods to help close the loop.
Bill and Emily Ishida, Kaua‘i County Business Recycling Specialists, received the survey results from the PAAC class November 20 and expressed a big mahalo for all the hard work they did analyzing the survey data.
For more information on recycling on Kaua‘i call, 241-4841 or visit kauai.gov/recycling
