Schools Collect Phone Books for Recycling

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Published on March 18 2013 1:49 pm
Last Updated on July 14 2013 12:07 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Area students recently gathered more than 28,000 phone books for recycling, and as a reward they earned $2,500 for their schools from Consolidated Communications.

The books were collected by students at St. Anthony Grade School, Sacred Heart School, Effingham Junior High School and Sigel St. Michael.  During the month-long program, students were encouraged to gather old phone books from family members and friends and to bring them into each school following the delivery of the 2012-2013 Phone Book from Consolidated.

St. Anthony Grade School earned top honors and a check for $1,000 from Consolidated Communications by gathering an average of 60 books per student, for a total of 20,651 books.

Sacred Heart School students gathered the second highest tally with 35 books per student, for a total of 4,917 books, and earned a $750 check from Consolidated. Students at Sigel St. Michael gathered almost 12 books per student, for a total of 1,287 books, earned a check for $500. Effingham Junior High School students gathered about 2 books per student and turned in 1,202 books and received a check for $250. In all, the schools gathered 28,057 books.

“Consolidated Communications is proud of the work these students did to gather old telephone books,” said Jenny Walden, manager, Consolidated Directories. “This program teaches children about the benefits of recycling and provides the schools with funding for other programs and opportunities for the students.”

Walden added that through this program, the books were picked up at the schools and housed by Sanitation Service Inc., of Effingham before being recycled. “This program is truly a great community project. Brian Hayes of Sanitation Service donates his company’s time to pick up the books and arranges for recycling each year with Howard’s Disposal. Howard’s picks up the books from Sanitation Service in empty trucks after dumping loads at the landfill. We couldn’t do this program without their support, and we sincerely appreciate it,” Walden said.