Fifth graders at Westwind Elementary teamed up with Crayola on a service project called Crayola ColorCycle where they recycle markers of any brand. It’s a project allowing them to learn how to help the environment and make a difference in the world around them.
“We are so excited about our first month of the Crayola ColorCycle program,” said Shelsy Franco, teacher at Westwind. “Our teachers and staff are being really supportive! We collected 415 dried up markers to save from being sent to the landfill this month. We will be shipping all the markers that we collect every month to Crayola so they may use them and recycle them as necessary.”
The project came about when students started a study on how to conserve the Earth’s resources by recycling. The students considered recycling milk cartons, lunch trays or water bottles. After doing research to see what would be manageable, fifth graders determined the Crayola ColorCycle program was a project they wanted to be involved in.
The Crayola ColorCycle program has re-purposed more than 70 tons of expended markers in the United States and Canada since 2013, and uses the most advanced plastic conversion technologies available today to make wax compounds for asphalt and roofing shingles, as well as to generate electricity that can be used to heat homes, cook food and power vehicles.
“Knowing the impact this recycling program is making motivates the students to want to keep collecting markers,” said Franco. “They hope the project continues at Westwind even after they go to middle school in the fall. They just love that they are helping make a small difference for the environment.”
The students are eager to see what results come from their efforts.
“My favorite part of the project is watching the students realize they have the power to help make a difference no matter how old they are,” said Franco. “They are capable of doing small things that lead to bigger things later on. What they started will lead to thousands of markers being kept from landfills and help Crayola convert them into resources that are necessary in the world.”