Recycling drive to fund student trip to New Orleans

LYNNFIELD-One man’s trash will serve as several students’ treasure when the Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield holds a recycling drive Saturday, Nov. 24.Donations including old or used computer monitors, refrigerators and telephones donated on location will help fund a trip for several area students to New Orleans where they will give aid to those still suffering from the Hurricane Katrina disaster.”We have been hoping to go to New Orleans for a while, but we had to wait for some time because it was still too dangerous for the kids,” said Barbara Langill, co-director of youth ministry and Christian education at the Centre Congregational Church. “We thought it would be really good for the kids to go though, because they were the ones that saw all the reporting, and their generation is the one that is the closest linked to the tragedy.”Organizers of the event aim to raise close to $1,000 in recycled goods for an estimated 12 students who will travel to The Big Easy. While it is hoped students will appreciate this unique opportunity to help others, many will also be writing off some of the 30 hours of community service required of them in order to graduate.Cathode Ray Tubes Recycling, a company that does mostly non-profit work for schools, will be processing and moving the recycled goods free of charge. Normally the town would charge a resident $25 for a sticker allowing them to recycle items outside the realm of regular solid waste. In this case, all items can be dropped off free of charge, although monetary donations will be accepted.All money earned that would have been subjected to regular Lynnfield charges will be put towards the Centre Congregational Church’s funds.Acceptable items include products containing cathode rays, such as TVs and computer monitors. These are all materials that cannot be normally taken out as acceptable waste in Lynnfield. The following are items are recommended for donations: computer monitors, $10 each; televisions, air conditioners, stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, $15 each; miscellaneous items such as microwave ovens, garbage disposals, printers, telephones, DVD players, video games and computers, $5 each.The Lynnfield Hazardous Waste Day, to be held on Nov. 17, is another organized drop-off that will not benefit the Center Congregational Church. This is a waste collection day for dumping commonly used household chemicals like oil-based paints, paint strippers, and cleaning solutions.For more information, visit www.crtr.org.