Two Richmond schools pile up used batteries to win Green Games grants

Students from Ferris elementary and Richmond secondary schools have received a $1,000 grant from the BC Green Games, sponsored by Science World, for their innovative efforts to make classrooms more sustainable.

As part of the school’s “E(co)volution” Ferris students have taken up action against a number of local environmental threats by performing a number of green acts.

For instance, they harvested apples from two school trees and installed solar powered irrigation systems for their greenhouses, signifying a desire to eat local and promote food security. Then, they planted nine new trees, adding to the 40 they’ve planted in the past eight years.

Next, some students became wild salmon champions by educating schoolmates about salmon life cycles. Next month the group will release salmon fry into Surrey’s Little Campbell River, which is presently under threat from development, according to local residents.

As well, Dr. Wahl from the Institute of Urban Ecology at Douglas College, taught three classes about the importance of pollinators. One class made Mason Bee homes out of recycled materials, to be placed around the school gardens. In Richmond, environmentalists and city hall have championed similar pollinator projects, as bee health is a significant concern in North America.

Ferris also removed its juice and water vending machines. This reduces waste and eliminates truck deliveries.

And 90 kilograms of used batteries were collected in a two-week, school-wide battery drive by the school’s ME to WE leaders.

Getting to school by cycling was also a big goal of Ferris students, who now report full bike racks each day.

These combined efforts led to the BC Green Games award.

Meanwhile, at Richmond secondary, the high school’s Green Team won an award for its E-Waste Collection Week program.

Students collected two big boxes of used batteries and old electronics to recycle but also informed other students about their use in general, to prevent waste from happening in the first place.

Their next project will be with Bundle Up Richmond where heating will be shut off at the school for a month.

The grants the schools won will go toward new green ventures.