The Otsego County Conservation Association’s Film Plastic Recycling Challenge has been suspended indefinitely as all county school districts are closed. The contest was originally set to end April 1, but schools are closed through April 13.
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Art Teacher Ashley Hughes, the district’s team leader for the OCCA challenge, said health/safety issues related collecting film plastic during the Coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension.
Hughes said her “Recyclin’ Raiders” collected more than 900 pounds of film plastic in two months. Last year, the district accounted for 1,821 of the 4,000 pounds collected during the challenge as GMU swept the elementary school (6.78 pounds per capita) and MS/HS (1.88 ppc) divisions.
Those who have film plastic at home can save it for next year’s contest or recycle it through OCCA and participating grocery stores. Examples of film plastic are grocery bags, bread bags, case overwrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, Ziploc/Baggies, produce bags, bubble wrap, salt bags and cereal bags.
Thank you for helping our students keep film plastic out of landfills!
Posted 3/19/2020