Last year the Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority (MCSWA) introduced a Reduce Waste initiative.
The initiative included the 2023 “Take the Reduce Waste Pledge,” with 58 residents participating, began with two articles about “12 Tips to Reduce Waste Going to the Landfill” and “How to Reduce Food Waste” (both can be found as blog posts on its website) and ended with the 2024 “How Do You Reduce Waste?” 12-month calendar.
The MCSWA partnered with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Youth Environmental Program’s District 1 Coordinator JoAnn Snoderly to develop a student lesson opportunity and calendar contest.
Monongalia County teachers from Eastwood Elementary, Mountaineer Middle and Suncrest Middle schools registered for the “How Do You Reduce Waste?” lesson. Students created artwork to show how they would reduce waste. Artwork from 175 students was submitted for the MCSWA calendar contest. Eight winners were selected with one student’s artwork also chosen for the cover.
The winners from Suncrest and Mountaineer Middle are Zahra Abbas, Mumayyaz Tazmeen Alam, Adalyn Carpenter-Bowen, Kennedy Godfrey, Anna Haynie, Emily Moore, Ava M. and Brayden Rickman.
The calendar includes the winning artwork with ways to reduce waste, “12-tips to Reduce Waste, Collection Events and More!” The calendar theme of “How Do You Reduce Waste?” is an opportunity to continue to focus these efforts into 2024 to reduce waste going to the landfill. Beginning this month, residents will see tips 1-3: “Wait,” “Repair” (including Scott’s Run Resonance Project’s Repair Café on Feb. 10) and “Borrow, Lend, Give.” Visit the website to check out the winning artwork, order a copy for free, while supplies last, or to print a copy.
To learn more follow the SWA on its website, social media accounts or subscribe to the e-newsletter at monongaliacountyswa.com.
