Attention FOURTH GRADE PROJECT EXTRA STUDENTS: The Sixth Graders NEED YOU!

First, the AQUASTODIANS thank you for participating in their “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” Art Contest sponsored by the NOAA. From your post-surveys, we see that you learned SO MUCH about what marine debris is and what you can do to help keep the sea free of debris. It was difficult judging your posters, but here are the six that are moving on to the national level of competition:

Congratulations to: Jessica Davis – School 2Minzi Hong – School 5

Congratulations to: Emily Roughan – School 5 Ioanna Savopoulos – School 4

Congratulations to: Julia Heidt – School 3 Matthew Roesler – School 2

The Plastic Pickups want to know: Would you be able to recycle this entire bottle at most recycling plants?

The Plastic Pickups want you to know: The answer is, unfortunately, NO! Matthew Roesl

Plastic caps from plastic bottles are not recyclable at most recycling plants and they end up in landfills. Sea creatures also mistake caps for food and they die from starvation. Matthew Roesl

 WHY CAN’T PLASTIC CAPS BE RECYCLED ? When bottles are crushed for shipment at recycling plants, caps can shoot off at high speeds, causing a safety hazard for recycling workers. If the bottles aren’t crushed but caps are left on, the bottles keep air inside and take up too much space. So, fewer bottles can be transported for recycling. Recycling companies do not accept plastic lids because they are made from a different type of plastic. Bottles are usually made of Type 1 plastic, while caps are made of Type 5 plastic. If the two materials are mixed together, they melt unevenly and are contaminated. Plastic from caps is also much thicker and usually jams processing equipment. Matthe w Roesl

What will YOU and the PLASTIC PICKUPS do about this? The Each elementary school in the district is participating in PROJECT RECYCLE AND REUSE! All types of plastic bottle caps will be collected and picked up weekly to be brought to School 6 by the Plastic Pickups. These caps will be then used for a mural created by the children of School 6 and their principal, Mrs. McGahan. Matthew Roesl Mrs. McGahan and the Plastic Pickups

Please HELP the PLASTIC PICKUPS and SCHOOL 6 Matthew Roesl Collect plastic bottle caps today and bring them to your school tomorrow – DON’T WAIT! The Plastic Pickups need YOU!

But … your help is still needed! School 2 - Do you think you can help our environment even more? Matthew Roesl The sixth graders hope so! (By the way, those are pretty cool butterflies!)

The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS Also Need You! Only creative fourth graders who are willing to save the Earth need apply! Is that you? Matthew Roesl

The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS Want You to Know … Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin decomposing 90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled 38 million plastic water bottles go to landfills per year in America 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States Only creative fourth graders who are willing to save the Earth need apply! Is that you? Matthew Roesl

So, Remember to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle all PLASTIC BOTTLES! The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS also remind you what plastic bottles can do to innocent animals …

The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS Want you to participate in something very, very special! The first ever, eco-friendly WATER BOTTLE ART EXHIBIT First, watch this for a little INSPIRATION : “A bottle doesn't have to be a bottle forever. All it takes is some creativity to turn an ordinary plastic bottle into something extraordinary”

The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS WATER BOTTLE ART EXHIBIT “A bottle doesn't have to be a bottle forever. All it takes is some creativity to turn an ordinary plastic bottle into something extraordinary” Today you will be given a simple water bottle. At home, finish the bottle, remove the label and let your imagine go wild! What will you create from just an ORDINARY plastic bottle? What will be your SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY? ALL projects will be put in a special display outside the PROJECT EXTRA classroom. ALL eco-artists will be given a “Don’t Harm Me with Debris” awareness bracelet designed by the Project Litter Babysitters especially for the fourth graders. These bracelets will not be available for purchase! The PROJECT LITTER BABYSITTERS can’t wait to see what you come up with. Helping to save the Earth while being creative is a WIN for everyone!