Cell Phone Round Up!

To celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15, the national office of Keep America Beautiful has challenged Keep the Midlands Beautiful to collect 3 retired cell phones a day for recycling.

KMB is challenging schools to help us meet this goal. The Lexington or Richland County school that collects the most phones by December 15, 2008 will win their choice of a compost bin, a rain barrel, or 70 compact florescent light bulbs. KMB will provide collection boxes and flyers. To conduct a collection drive at your school, contact Chandra at 803-733-1139.

Rain Barrels Available from the Richland Conservation District

Collecting rainwater for your garden is a smart idea, no matter what your motivation. If drought is a problem where you live, collecting rainwater is a good way to deal with watering restrictions. If you're on a city water system, you stand to save a considerable amount of money. Click here to learn more about rain barrels. The Richland Conservation District (located at 2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A in Columbia) is selling a rain barrel system for $90.00. To purchase a rain barrel, e-mail Charlie Fisher or call 803-576-2080.

Lexus Eco Challenge

The 2009 Lexus Eco Challenge, administered by Scholastic, has begun. The Eco Challenge is a nationwide educational program and contest that invites teams of five to ten students and one teacher-advisor to define an environmental issue, and develop and implement a plan to address that issue. The Challenge is made up of three categories, each with its own application period.

Registration and Action Plans for Challenge 1: Land, which specifically addresses landfills, waste management, and recycling; deforestation or desertification; and/or endangered species and the loss of biodiversity must be submitted online by Friday, October 24, 2008. Challenge 2: Water, which addresses shrinking wetlands and aquatic habitats, water conservation and freshwater shortages, and/or threats to the world's waterways and oceans, opens November 23, 2008 and closes December 12, 2008. Challenge 3: Air/Climate opens December 17, 2008, and runs through February 6, 2009. The Air/Climate challenge addresses global warming and climate change, ozone depletion, and/or fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Teacher-advisors can learn more about each of these three challenges and register online by clicking here.

Green Steps Sponsors