Event To Teach Kids About Recycling

Yakima County announced that it will host its fourth Youth Environmental Summit (Y.E.S.) on Friday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center in recognition of America Recycles Day.  The goal of the summit is to empower students and school staff to be environmental advocates in their schools, homes and communities.

The Youth Environmental Summit will feature guest speaker and author Beth Terry, who hosts a blog www.myplasticfreelife.com and has dedicated her life to researching plastic-free alternatives for everyday items.  “It’s unfortunate that we make disposable single-use items out of a material that lasts forever,” according to Marci Venable, Program Coordinator for Yakima County Solid Waste. “While giving up plastic entirely is not practical for most people, all of us can reduce the disposable items we use to help decrease what ends up in our oceans and landfills.”

The Summit will also feature Dr. Marcus Eriksen, who sailed from Los Angeles to Hawaii on a craft made from 15,000 plastic bottles to call attention to plastics in our oceans. Dr. Eriksen is Executive Director and Co-Founder of The 5Gyres Institute, an organization that conducts research about the global impact of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Gyres are circular ocean currents that draw trash and debris consisting mostly of plastic which breaks into smaller and smaller pieces that create a garbage patch in the ocean.  There are now five of these garbage patches in the world’s oceans.

The event will also feature exhibits from local environmental organizations including the Yakima Area Arboretum, Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency, and Yakama Nation Wildlife among others.  “A popular part of the event is the hands-on learning at the exhibit tables,” Venable said.  “It’s an opportunity for local groups to get their message out.”  There is no charge for organizations to provide an exhibit.

The Youth Environmental Summit is free to attend for middle, junior and senior high students and staff.  Lunch is provided.  Interested students, teachers or environmental organizations can contact Yakima County Solid Waste by phone at (509)-574-2450 or on-line at YakimaRecycles.com.