Way to Go! Glen Cove student implements recycling program
Elana Greim, a senior at Glen Cove High School, implemented a recycling program last year in which nearly 200 bins were set up in the school's classrooms. Credit: Antonio Santana
A Glen Cove student has spearheaded an effort to increase recycling in her school community.
Elana Greim, a senior at Glen Cove High School, implemented a recycling program last year in which nearly 200 bins were set up in the school's classrooms. The program, which is run through the school's Environmental Club, was expanded this school year to recycle paper as well as plastic.
Greim, who also founded the club two years ago, started the recycling program using a $1,000 grant she received through "Difference Makers," the youth empowerment initiative of Bethpage Federal Credit Union's charitable arm, Bethpage Cares.
"I really felt like Glen Cove needed a change to better the environment," Greim, 17, said. "We needed some activism in the climate-change and global-warming perspective."
Once the bottles are recycled, the funds — of which more than $200 has been collected so far — goes to various wildlife organizations, Greim said. The Environmental Club is also allocating funds for the publication of a cookbook, the proceeds of which will further benefit wildlife causes.
Greim is a member of her school's English, National, Math, Social Studies and Tri-M Music honor societies; she is secretary of the trial and debate class and Key Club. She is also a senior writer for the yearbook and vice president of the select chorale and newspaper club.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
