Eight members of the 2010-2011 Leadership Chattanooga development program, called the ChattaChange team, are approaching churches and area businesses to encourage recycling by connecting organizations with an easy, free and profitable recycling outlet.
"Churches don't always recycle, in our experience, and we wanted to do something to change that," said team member Michelle Turner, who attends Morris Hill Baptist Church in East Brainerd. "I'm sure a lot of churches in Chattanooga are doing recycling, but the ones we contacted weren't and they were delighted to take part."
As part of Leadership Chattanooga, area residents are helping organizations like St. Jude School start recycling programs. From left are Leadership Chattanooga members and supporters Michelle Turner, Doug Martin, Pastor Charlie Burton, Mallory Hein, Josh Overton, Edgar Rios and Kim Perry.She said a member of the group noticed at their own church that congregation members often throw away or leave behind the Sunday bulletin.
ChattaChange members researched and found that Caraustar Recycling, based in Dalton, offers free pickup for recycling. The organizations that use Caraustar can even earn money for their used paper, plastic and aluminum products.
"We just started with churches, but as we realized how great this opportunity was. we ended up getting Alstom, Virginia College and Siskin Children's Institute," Turner said. "It really expanded beyond what we intended and we hope it keeps going."
So far, organizations recruited for the project are Alstom, Morris Hill Baptist Church, Nazarene Daycare, New United Missionary Baptist Church, St. Jude Catholic Church and School, Virginia College and Siskin Children's Institute's downtown and East Brainerd locations.
"It works great for the center," said Shelia Garner, director of the Siskin Early Learning Center in East Brainerd. "We're teaching a new generation the importance of recycling."
Through the Children's Institute, Garner works with children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. She said she has been trying to set up a recycling program at the center since last fall since they use large amounts of corrugated cardboard and paper. Garner said that so far, the recycling process has been easy and is proving to be a useful educational tool for the children.
ChattaChange members are John Eaves, Ryan King, Doug Martin, Kevin Osteen, Kim Perry, Michelle Turner, Deena Rohloff and Heather Stalvey. They will graduate along with the rest of Leadership Chattanooga members May 20.
"Leadership Chattanooga is a division of Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce that meets once a month to learn about different aspects of Chattanooga, from nonprofits to education and state government," explained Turner, who works in marketing for Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries. "Part of the class is to be split up into groups and do a project that will benefit Chattanooga."