East Hampton Middle School Surfrider Club Promotes Recycling And Reusable Products

The East Hampton Middle School Surfrider Club has declared war on plastics.Following the “Rise Against Plastics” initiative spearheaded by the national Surfrider Foundation, math teacher and chief lifeguard of the Town of East Hampton John Ryan Jr. is leading the young student organization to spread recycling awareness and implement green solutions throughout the entire school district.“Our goal is to try to find ways of reusing and recycling … more so trying to reduce our plastic footprint,” said Mr. Ryan. “We understand plastic bottles are going to be used, but 90 percent of all these recylables are being trashed.”To combat these practices, the Surfrider Club has been actively collecting recyclables at the school and taking them across the street to Stop and Shop every Wednesday to be properly recycled.“We collect cans, plastic bottles, glass … if [they don’t] take it, we bag it and take to a recycling center,” explained sixth-grader Bruce Siska, 12, as he and his classmates uncovered their stash in Mr. Ryan’s classroom last Friday.However, the club also has its sights set on a way to tackle the recycling issue at the source. Mr. Ryan said the club is looking to purchase 10 Clear Stream Recycling contaianers. Designed with a clear bottom that exposes the recyclables underneath. The containers would be placed in the cafeteria and other areas such as the teachers lounge and outside the gym.“The more people see them, the more it advertises the concept,” said Mr. Ryan.On Monday night, the Kiwanis Club of East Hampton approved a $375 donation to the Surfrider Club at EHMS for the project. Along with additional funds from an anonymous donor and the money collected from the recyclables, Mr. Ryan said he and his students hope to bring in the containers as soon as possible.In addition to the containers, the club wants to convince students to forgo plastic products like water bottles and ziploc sandwich bags in favor of canteens and old-fashioned lunchboxes.Mr. Ryan said the club has also received a $300 donation to begin selling products made by a company called Klean Kanteens, which advocates for the elimination of single use cups, bottles and food canisters by offering its own reusable ones.The club also held a week-long cafeteria event in which they gave out coupons for prizes to students who made green choices, such as recycling and bringing in reusable containers.“We’re engaged in all of this for the reason that we want to make a difference. We need others to help in that,” said Mr. Ryan. “So talking to them and asking them to make changes in what they bring to school and how they bring their lunch to school will help.”