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Child care center kids recycle

Kids at the Boca Grande Child Care Center have found a whole new reason to be excited about recycling – and it’s all because of the return.

Recently the children started collecting “Number 2” recyclables for a new project. It all evolved, said Kimi Harms, the director of the center, because of a coincidence.

“We save all kinds of things that a lot of people would throw away, and we use them for crafts for the kids,” she said. “One day I brought in some juice I had purchased, and the store had put the two big bottles together with a plastic strap. One of the other girls here, Heidi, was putting them away when she asked if we should save the heavy strap. At that same time someone walked in to pick up a child and overheard us, and asked if she could take it because she works at a recycling plant.”

The rest of the coincidence came together when Kimi asked if the recycle plant made the popular lumber that is used for decking and playground equipment now.

“She said they did make that lumber, that they chip down the plastic and re-use it,” Kimi said. “It’s high-quality lumber compared to some, because there is no filler. It doesn’t hold bacteria and doesn’t rot from moisture. She told us if we wanted to save the Number 2 type plastic, we could take it to her work and hopefully get credits for it.”

Kimi had been researching the lumber for some time, knowing that moisture and bacteria-alleviating products were integral at a daycare center.

Number 2 recyclables include hard plastics such as bleach and detergent bottles, bottled water, juice and soda caps and water and milk jugs. Other Number 2 items are flower and plant pots (the temporary plastic kind, as well as some toys and other items.

All of the materials must be rinsed out or they cannot be used.

The center will receive credit for HDPE or Number 2 recyclable plastic that is collected toward the purchase of picnic tables that are manufactured from the 100 percent recycled plastic lumber.

Not all Number 2 items have the symbol with a triangle of arrows that is commonly known, and some have the letters “HDPE” stamped into the product.

“It’s hard to teach the little ones about recycling, but when they see what we give the people and what we get back, it might make an impression on them,” Kimi said. “We are also starting a “re-use” program using certain items like frosting containers and things that can be kept for other uses. It’s good to teach the kids that there are many things that can be re-used instead of thrown away, and I want us to start doing more of that.”