Putting ‘U’ in Community Education: Recycling 'bin'fluencers reduce waste together

Community Education provides lifelong learning for all. That’s why we’re sharing stories of the different ways people interact with Community Ed. We want YOU to see how Community Education is having an impact on your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. 

Eco-era activated! Members of the Leo Club at Andover High School are thinking outside the trash can as they work to create planet-friendly students and staff.

Run by Anoka-Hennepin Community Education, the Leo Club is a youth service group at the high school. Members base their projects on a theme. This year, the group is turning "waste into wow" by focusing on sustainability.

After learning that items in the bins weren’t getting recycled because they were contaminated with liquid and straws, the group partnered with Anoka County Recycling and Resource Solutions and set out on a campaign to educate students and staff.

“Working with the county was great. I mean they were super helpful,” said Andover High School youth service coordinator, Tammy Peterson. “They provided us with information, support, and a grant to purchase additional recycling bins and signage.”

Students in the Leo Club put up banners, held trivia sessions at lunch and even presented at a staff meeting. They then did a recycling audit and discovered they were nearing their goal of a 90% clean recycling stream.

“The big thing that we learned is that if you just dump out your water bottle or clean out your coffee cup, that could mostly solve everything,” said Molly Mayer, Leo Club president.

In our latest Putting ‘U’ in Community Education video, we follow along on their journey as students work to transform the recycling program in the building and community.