F.E. Burleson Elementary School students learned a lot about the value of sustaining a clean environment and recycling on Friday as they participated in an Earth Day observance.

Learning activities were coordinated by assistant principal Debbie Queen and conducted both in classrooms and in the outdoor classroom. They included the construction of a worm bin, planting of a tepee bean area, picking up litter on the school grounds, viewing the video ”Bag the Bag,” building a plastic bag chain and listing to a talk on the value of recycling.

A focus was placed on the recycling of plastic bags as opposed to putting them in the garbage can. Each child was asked to bring a plastic bag from home. These bags were tied together to form a chain and later displayed by students as they lined up in front of the school and formed a large circle with the bags in tow. Afterward, they assembled in the gym and listened to Byron Turney, Hartselle street department superintendent, talk about the city’s recycling program.

“Recycling is a good way to conserve our resources,” Turney pointed out.

Last year, the public works department collected 538 tons of recyclables and sold them for $25,000. At the same time, we saved $14,000 in dumping fees.

He also reported that 2,745 tons of tree limbs were picked up at curbside and converted into wood chips. Another 560 tons of tree leaves were collected and converted into top soil. Rock and concrete waste is crushed and used as filler.

Turney also displayed a blue recycling bin and called attention to an instruction sheet that is attached to the lid. It lists acceptable recyclables.

“I urge you not to use the bin for the disposal of food, food wrappers or other unacceptable waste,” Turney said. “This lowers the price we receive for recyclables.”