Recycling takes root with students

SANDUSKY — It's not always easy to go green, but area elementary students learned how to recycle and more. On Friday, Sandusky Packaging employees Cindy Norman, Connie Turinsky and Gina Francisco led activities for Sandusky Central Catholic students in Lori Kimberlin and Amy Murphy's third-grade classes. The company leads a similar program for second-graders at Danbury Elementary Thursday.Sandusky Packaging, at 2016 George Street, makes annual visits to area schools districts with the TICCIT (Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees) program to teach children the importance of trees and other environmental concepts in conjunction with Earth Day.The company makes folding cartons for numerous products ranging from food to automotive to pharmaceuticals.Third-grade students at Sandusky Central Catholic School color cartons before planting a tree sapling in the carton during an Earth Day activity with Sandusky Packaging Corporation on Friday, April 20, 2018."In the TICCIT program, member companies partner with a local school where they donate tree seeds or native saplings and teach students how to plant them in cartons," Turinsky said. "The students are then instructed to plant these 'carton-and-tree units' in the ground. The cartons provide protection and a natural water funnel for the new trees. As the trees grow, the cartons biodegrade, completing the 'trees into cartons, cartons into trees' cycle.Each hourlong session with company representatives included learning the benefits of recycling, watching how the cartons were made and more activities.Children also learned how to make paper using chopped up pieces of paper using a mold, colored biodegradable cartons for their Colorado Blue Spruce saplings before planting the saplings inside. They were encouraged to find a place to plant them at home.[imageunropped=SCCS Earth Day 04202018 e.jpg]A number of children never planted a tree before."The roots feel weird," student Ruby Capizzi said while planting her sapling, noting she has an idea of where she wants to plant it later."I'll probably plant it in my grandma's backyard," classmate Emmalyn Redinger said. Cindy Norman works with third-grader Taylor Pickens during an Earth Day activity on Friday, April 20, 2018, at Sandusky Central Catholic School. Sandusky Packaging Corporation taught students about how paper is reused.Classmate Alex Vanseoder said he enjoyed making the paper, while Reese Capizzi said she liked all the activities. Sandusky Packaging employees took notice. "The kids have enjoyed it," Norman said. "They're taking to what we've taught them."A student adds soil to a carton while planting a Colorado Blue Spruce sapling to take home during an Earth Day activity at Sandusky Central Catholic School on Friday, April 20, 2018.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodThird-grader Gavin Ebner, center, participates in an activity with Sandusky Packaging Corporation on Friday, April 20, 2018, at Sandusky Central Catholic School. Students were educated about paperÕs renewability and sustainability. Third-grader Victor Lauwers plants a Colorado Blue Spruce sapling during an Earth Day activity at Sandusky Central Catholic School on Friday, April 20, 2018.